After many years of anticipation, Lionel Messi finally achieved World Cup triumph as Argentina defeated France in a dramatic penalty shootout on Sunday.
Messi scored two goals during the match, while France’s Kylian Mbappé scored a hat trick, the first in a World Cup final since 1966.
The final match of one of the most memorable major sporting events in history ended in a 3-3 tie after extra time, with Argentina ultimately coming out on top in a nail-biting shootout. Argentina dominated much of the match and held a 2-0 lead with just about 10 minutes remaining, but France mounted a comeback, with Mbappé scoring twice in quick succession. Both teams had missed chances to score in the remainder of regulation time and in extra time, leading to the high-stakes shootout. In the end, France missed twice before Argentina’s Montiel converted the winning penalty, securing an emotionally charged victory for his team.
The World Cup final, held in Qatar after a month of sporting excitement and political controversy, pitted two soccer powerhouses against each other and featured a showdown between two star players: Messi and Mbappé. The tournament had seen a number of unexpected results and Cinderella stories, but the final saw France and Argentina, led by their talented forwards, fight for the title. Mbappé, seen as a contender for Messi’s crown, put in a strong performance with a hat trick, but it was ultimately Messi who emerged victorious, securing his place as one of the greatest players in the game and bringing a third title to his soccer-loving country as he ends his international career.
After scoring the winning penalty kick, Lionel Messi was surrounded by his teammates in celebration, as they knew that he would no longer be criticized for lacking a World Cup title. Despite already having won numerous individual and team accolades, including seven Ballon d’Or awards and championships in various leagues and competitions, Messi faced criticism from his home country of Argentina for not having a World Cup trophy. However, that changed on Sunday when Argentina won the sport’s most prestigious prize, finally satisfying their fans and solidifying Messi’s place as a champion.
