Argentina have won the World Cup in a penalty shoot-out with France after the greatest final in the competition’s history ended in a 3-3 draw after extra time in Qatar.
Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick for France and Lionel Messi twice for Argentina as the world’s top two players both shone in a fantastic duel in the Lusail Stadium near Doha on Sunday.
Both men scored in the penalty shootout too but Argentina prevailed 4-2 on spot kicks to lift the World Cup for the third time.
Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez proved their hero again, saving Kingsley Coman’s penalty and Aurelien Tchouameni then fired wide to give Argentina their first world title since 1986.
France had come from two goals down to level over 90 minutes with Mbappe netting twice in two minutes, first with an 80th-minute penalty and then a dazzling volley.
The France striker completed his hat-trick in the 118th minute with another spot-kick after Messi had bundled in what had looked likely to be the winner in the 109th minute.
Earlier, Argentina had dominated, going 2-0 up in the first half with Messi, who was making a record-breaking 26th World Cup appearance, converting a 23rd-minute penalty.
They then struck again with a sublime four-pass counter-attack involving Messi as Alexis Mac Allister’s cutback found Angel Di Maria, who finished well.
In a final of exraordinary twists and turns, Mbappe became only the second man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final following Geoff Hurst’s treble for England in the 1966 victory over West Germany.
But it was Messi’s day as the Argentine captain, considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all-time, was at last able to lift the one trophy that had eluded him.
AAP
