Argentina won their third World Cup in an extraordinary final on Sunday beating France 4-2 on penalties after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw that included a hat-trick for Kylian Mbappe as the defending champions pulled away from recovering from a 2-0 down.
Argentina looked set for a one-sided victory after Messi's penalty and a brilliant first-half goal from Angel Di Maria put them in total control, but Mbappé converted an 80th-minute penalty to equalize a minute later the match into extra time.
Messi put Argentina back in front but Mbappé equalized with another penalty to become the second man to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final after England's Geoff Hurst in 1966.
Mbappé and Messi took their teams' first penalties and then scored. Kingsley Coman had undertake from Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez and Aurelien Tchouameni then made a save for France, giving Gonzalo Montiel the chance to end the game. He turned the penalty to the left and sparked wild cheers.
Europe's streak of four consecutive World Cup winners since 2006 is over. The last South American champion was Brazil, and that was in Asia too, this is when Japan and South Korea hosted the tournament in 2002.
In Qatar, Argentina confirmed victory at last year's Copa America, their first major title since 1993. It was the culmination of Messi's international career which is not yet over. He said after the match that he would continue to play for the national team.
It was an extraordinary night of drama, thrills and tumbling fortunes, delivering one of the greatest finals ever to cap off a wondrous tournament as its two star players delivered commanding performances on the biggest scene of all.
The World Cup lives and breathes and flow the hopes of those who love it. It is a place where everyone wants magical moments like Sunday's final, not because we know they will happen, but because we believe they are possible.
Congratulations to Argentina for their victory!
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