Argentina defeated France in a roller-coaster showcase event won by Gonzalo Montiel's penalty shot.
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| Messi’s Argentina beat France on penalties to win FIFA World Cup 2022 |
Argentina won the 2022 World Cup with a stunning penalty shootout against France in an incredible final.
After the two sides were knotted at 3-3 at the end of extra time, Gonzalo Montiel's penalty kick gave the South American side a 4-2 triumph in the shootout at Qatar's 89,000-capacity Lusail Stadium on Sunday.
After France's Kingsley Coman had an attempt stopped by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, and Aurelien Tchouameni went wide, Montiel's crucial effort arrived.
The thrilling final confirmed Argentina captain Lionel Messi's already illustrious reputation, with the 35-year-old leading his team to their first World Cup victory since 1986 - and third overall.
He scored two goals and then another in the shootout to crown a strong performance in Qatar, his 26th World Cup participation - a statistic that will not be increased after he revealed ahead to the final that this would be his final World Cup.
Following the game, though, Messi dismissed the possibility of retiring from the national team for the time being.
"I'd like to play a couple more games as a world champion. "I was fortunate to win every trophy in my career; this was the only one lacking," he told reporters. "I'd want to take this one to Argentina and enjoy it with everyone else."
Mbappe's hat trick comes up short for the reigning champions
Messi scored Argentina's first goal from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute, capping off an excellent start for coach Lionel Scaloni's men.
Angel Di Maria, starting for the first time in the knockout round, added a second in the 36th minute after a sweeping sequence of passes to conclude a dominant first-half performance against a lifeless France.
France, attempting to become the first country to retain the World Cup since Brazil did it in 1962, struggled in the second stanza.
The European powers did not score until the 68th minute but exploded with 10 minutes to play when Kylian Mbappe scored twice in two minutes to put Argentina on the back foot and send the game into extra time.
The 23-year-first old's goal came from a penalty kick, and his second came on a beautiful volley after a brilliant exchange with replacement Marcus Thuram.
Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani were introduced immediately before halftime as coach Didier Deschamps made quick moves to try to reverse the trend of the game.
Mbappe's brilliance kept Argentina in the game as the regular time ended, but Messi restored Argentina's advantage in the 108th minute with his second goal.
Not to be outdone, Mbappe completed his hat-trick with a penalty with two minutes of extra time remaining, ensuring the game would be decided by a shootout.
Mbappe's outstanding performances guaranteed that he concluded the tournament as the tournament's best scorer, with eight goals, one goal ahead of Messi, his colleague at French club side Paris Saint-Germain.
He is only the second man in history to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, following Geoff Hurst for England in 1966.
The era of European domination is coming to an end
Argentina's victory stopped Europe's four-game winning streak at the World Cup.
Brazil was the previous South American champion when Japan and South Korea hosted the competition in 2002.
Argentina previously won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986.
The country built on its Copa America success from the previous year in Qatar, its first major trophy since 1993.
France's defeat marked the second time in five World Cups that they had lost the final on penalties, having been defeated by Italy in 2006.