''We're Champions Of The World'': Lionel Messi Leads Argentina To Glory

Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored twice, while France forward Kylian Mbappe scored three times as the World Cup final ended 3-3 after extra time at the Lusail Stadium.

Lionel Messi capped his spectacular career with a World Cup victory on Sunday, as Argentina defeated France on penalties in a contest for the ages, triumphing 4-2 after a hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe ensured the game ended equal following extra time. Argentina won their third World Cup and prevented France from becoming the first side in 60 years to retain the championship, thanks to Gonzalo Montiel's penalty. But Messi and Mbappe delivered, with Messi scoring twice and Mbappe becoming the first player since England's Geoff Hurst in 1966 to net a World Cup final hat-trick in a game that ended 3-3 after extra time.

Messi scored from the penalty spot midway through the first half, and Angel Di Maria extended Argentina's lead in the 36th minute after a stunning counter-attack.

But Mbappe breathed new life into the holders when he scored from the penalty spot with 10 minutes remaining before equalising in dramatic fashion just 60 seconds later to force extra time.

Messi then appeared to have won the game for Argentina once and for all when he converted a rebound in the 109th minute, only for Mbappe to score from another spot-kick to tie the game at 3-3 and force a shoot-out.

Messi and Mbappe both scored in the third World Cup final penalty shoot-out, but Kingsley Coman's next kick for France was saved, and Aurelien Tchouameni subsequently crucially missed the target.

France has lost the World Cup final on penalties for the second time in five years, having been defeated by Italy in 2006, and Argentina has won the tournament for the first time since 1986.

The victory allows Messi, at 35, to round off his illustrious career by imitating Diego Maradona, and this will be regarded as his tournament despite Mbappe's best efforts, as the tournament's leading scorer with eight goals, one more than his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Messi.

Mbappe hat-trick

France's bid for history had been jeopardised by a virus in the days preceding the final, and they were lethargic before Argentina took the lead.

When Di Maria was clipped by Ousmane Dembele, France conceded a penalty for the fourth time this tournament, and Messi stepped up to score from the spot for the fourth time in Qatar, his 12th World Cup goal, tying Pele's record.

Argentina doubled their lead in the 36th minute when the reigning champions failed to respond as expected.

Messi and Julian Alvarez collaborated to set up Alexis MacAllister, who surged through the middle and sent a first-time ball to Di Maria at the back post.

Di Maria had come here after missing the knockout rounds due to injury, and he appeared distraught as he celebrated his World Cup final goal.

France had not yet fired a shot when Deschamps came on to replace Olivier Giroud and the struggling Moussa Dembele.

Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram were introduced as Mbappe moved into the centre of the attack.

Argentina blows a two-goal advantage

Argentina famously blew a two-goal lead before eventually winning the World Cup final 36 years ago, but there appeared to be little chance of a repeat performance.

However, the French were given new hope 10 minutes from time when Kolo Muani was taken down by Nicolas Otamendi.

Mbappe slammed the penalty kick into the net, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to get to his feet. France had a chance, and within a minute they were level.

Coman stripped Messi of possession in the buildup, before Mbappe found Thuram and met his partner's knockdown with a fantastic volley.

It will be remembered as one of the most dramatic moments in World Cup history, as the French players on the bench sprinted across the field to join their teammate in celebration.

Argentina, which lost the 2014 final in extra time, was exhausted, but it appeared that they had won it again when Messi scored early in the second extra period after Lautaro Martinez's attempt was saved.

Mbappe saved France once more, converting another penalty after a Montiel handball.

Argentina needed a stunning Martinez save from Kolo Muani to force penalties, and Montiel's kick proved decisive, sparking loud Argentine celebrations.