By Adedoyin Falolu
Argentina are the new world champions after battling to score 4-2 in a penalty over France in the final game of the Qatar 2022 World Cup on Sunday.
The game first-half goal was scored by Messi from the penalty in the 23rd minute and another from Angel di Maria in the 36th minute put Argentina on the spot ealry victory.
However, things took another turn in the second half as Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in two minutes to get Les Bleus level with Argentina.
The first came via a penalty in the 80th minute after Nicolas Otamendi fouled Randal Kolo Muani in the box. Mbappe stepped up to the spot and drilled it past Emiliano Martinez
Then, just a minute later, Mbappe drilled another thunderous strike to drag the game into extra time.
Messi thought he had won it with an extra-time goal, but Mbappe was on hand to make it 3-3 as he completed his hat trick.
In the penalty kicks that came afterwards, Mbappe took the first kick and scored while Messi went for Argentina and also scored.
Kingsley Coman failed to score the second kick for France while Parades scored for Argentina
Kolo Muani took the fourth kick and scored while Montiel scored what was the decider as they won 4-2 on penalty kicks.
This is Argentina’s third World Cup trophy after previous triumphs in 1978 and 1986.
The outing in Qatar, which will most likely be the last at the World Cup, has been phenomenal for Messi.
Aside from setting the record for the most played games at the World Cup with 26 appearances,
While Messi is celebrating winning the only major trophy previously missing from his cabinet as he bows out of future world cup,France have been edged out of becoming the first world champions in 60 years to retain their crown.