Messi stars as Argentina seal historic World Cup with thrilling win
Despite being heavily billed as the two main protagonists of this final, neither Kylian Mbappé nor Lionel Messi could create a major chance in the opening exchanges.
Before long, however, Messi would have his golden moment, taking responsibility from the spot after Ousmane Dembélé clumsily tripped Ángel Di Maria inside the box.
Following a deep breath, the maestro sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way with a nonchalant side-footed shot into the bottom-right corner, sending swathes of Albiceleste fans into delirium, while also becoming the first man to score in every World Cup knockout round under the 32-team format.
While reports of a virus in the France camp provided some mitigation for Les Bleus’ insipid display, they were carved open again 10 minutes before half time with a perfect team goal.
Messi stole possession from a throw-in and found Julián Álvarez, who in turn passed sharply to Alexis Mac Allister.
Ever a visionary, the Brighton man spotted Di Maria on the opposite flank, and the Juventus winger ran unchallenged with perfect timing to slot beyond Lloris and seemingly settle the showdown with an hour still to play.
The Albicelestes were thwarted mostly by the overworked Lloris in the second half, and France coach Didier Deschamps duly indulged in a final roll of the dice.
He injected some much-needed pace with the dual deployment of Eduardo Camavinga and Kingsley Coman, but it was earlier substitute Randal Kolo Muani who gave Les Bleus a way back, going down in the box under Nicolás Otamendi’s challenge.
Not to be denied his own plot twist, Mbappé stepped up to fire a cool penalty beyond the dive of Emiliano Martínez.
Just moments later, Mbappé was on hand again to receive a pass inside the box from Marcus Thuram, firing sublimely across Martínez to equalise and overtake Messi as the tournament’s top scorer in the blink of an eye.
But it was so nearly Messi with the last-gasp winner, seeing a venomous shot tipped over by Lloris in the final minute of eight added on. Consequently, the World Cup final would end level after 90 minutes for a fourth time in five editions.
Extra time was predictably tense, but after suffering the most nail-biting half-hour in their entire lives, it was Argentina who finally came good on the night.
Lautaro Martínez meandered into the area, and fired from the angle, drawing a close-range parry from Lloris.
Of all the potential heroes on the night, Messi latched onto the rebound and saw his follow-up shot cleared away – but not before crossing the line by mere inches, apparently giving Argentina victory in the most dramatic of circumstances.
But Mbappé went above and beyond once again, slotting home a penalty, awarded after a handball from Montiel inside the box with 116 minutes played, to ensure the World Cup final would be settled by penalties for the first time in 16 years.
Back in 2006, France were bested by Italy in such heartbreaking circumstances, and history repeated itself, when Montiel redeemed himself to beat Lloris with the decisive duel, sealing a third world title for Argentina.
For brace-scoring captain Messi, who will thrust the ultimate prize high into the desert sky, the long road from La Masia to El Maestro is now complete and nobody can now deny him his much-debated equality with 1986 champion Diego Maradona.
But tonight was as much about the future generation of Albiceleste, who will now have both Italy and Germany’s tally of four World Cup titles in their sights for 2026. On this evidence, Messi's successors will stop at nothing to ensure the name of Argentina is anointed in lights many more times in the years to come.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
FIFA World Cup Awards
Young Player of the Tournament: Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)
Golden Glove: Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)
Golden Boot: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Player of the Tournament: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
