It was an epic clash between the two giants, typical of results in Qatar, as the South Americans stormed to a 2-0 lead.
But a late Dutch fightback inspired by Wout Weghorst saw the game go into extra time and then a penalty shoot-out, which Lionel Messi's side won.
Get all of the stats and commentary from the match here!
Minute-by-minute commentary below...
121' The lottery of the penalty shootout is over. It was pretty exciting don't you think?
121' GOAL! That’s a great strike from the spot by Lautaro Martinez (Argentina) into the left of the net, giving goalkeeper Andries Noppert no chance!
121' Goal! Luuk de Jong (Netherlands) calmly steps up and places the ball into the bottom left corner.
121' Enzo Fernandez (Argentina) fails to convert the penalty kick. His shot goes just wide of the left post.
121' GOAL! That’s a great strike from the spot by Wout Weghorst (Netherlands) low into the left of the net, giving goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez no chance!
121' Goal! Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina) sends the keeper the wrong way and scores into the right side of the goal.
121' GOAL! That’s a great strike from the spot by Teun Koopmeiners (Netherlands) into the right of the net, giving goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez no chance!
121' Goal! Leandro Paredes (Argentina) calmly steps up and smashes the ball inside the left post.
121' Steven Berghuis (Netherlands) takes the penalty and sends the ball to the right side of the goal, but the goalkeeper pulls off a tremendous diving save to deny him.
121' Goal! Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins the battle of wills and sends an unstoppable penalty low past Andries Noppert into the middle of the goal.
121' Emiliano Martinez anticipates the direction of the penalty by Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands). He attempted to put the ball inside the left post, but the goalkeeper was there in time to deny him.
121' It is sometimes said that a penalty kick can only be missed by the taker rather than saved by the goalkeeper. Do you think that will be in the minds of the players today?
120+2' Antonio Mateu Lahoz blows his whistle and ends extra time of today's match. The penalty shoot-out will determine the winner.
120+1' POST! Enzo Fernandez (Argentina) unleashes a thunderous effort from the edge of the box and the ball crashes against the left post. What a strike that was!
116' Enzo Fernandez (Argentina) takes a shot from the edge of the box, but it's not a big threat for the goalkeeper as his effort is blocked by a defender. The referee and his assistant both point at the corner flag. Argentina will have an opportunity to threaten the opposition's goal.
115' A pass lands at the feet of Lautaro Martinez (Argentina) in the middle of the box, he looks up and shoots but the effort is superbly blocked by a defender. Argentina force their opponents to concede a corner.
113' The substitution is prepared. Noa Lang (Netherlands) joins the action as a substitute, replacing Cody Gakpo.
113' Luuk de Jong (Netherlands) controls the ball from the resulting free kick inside the six-yard box, but his effort is blocked by one of the defending players.
112' Antonio Mateu Lahoz shows the yellow card to German Pezzella (Argentina) for a heavy challenge.
112' Here is a change. Lisandro Martinez is going off and Lionel Scaloni gives the last tactical orders to Angel Di Maria (Argentina).
109' Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina) will miss the next game because of that yellow card.
109' The main referee, Antonio Mateu Lahoz, is apparently not going to tolerate any discussions. Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina) is given a yellow card for dissent.
106' Lionel Scaloni makes a half-time substitution. Gonzalo Montiel comes on in place of Nahuel Molina (Argentina).
106' The players must be exhausted and nobody wants the penalty shoot-out. Let's see what second part of extra time can bring. It starts right now!
105+1' Antonio Mateu Lahoz blows for the end of the first period of extra time.
91' The first period of extra-time has just begun.
90+13' Having seen unsporting behavior, Antonio Mateu Lahoz shows a yellow card to one of the players sitting on the bench. And Steven Bergwijn (Netherlands) is the recipient.
90+13' The second half has finished, but the result of this match is still yet to be decided.
90+12' Nicolas Otamendi (Argentina) was probably a bit loose with his words to Antonio Mateu Lahoz, who decides to show him a yellow.
90+11' 2 - 2 Wout Weghorst (Netherlands) fires home from close range after he received the ball from the resulting free kick from Teun Koopmeiners. He hits the back of the net with a precise strike and makes it 2:2.
90+10' Lionel Messi (Argentina) is booked for saying more than Antonio Mateu Lahoz was willing to tolerate.
90' Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz halts the game and wanders over to the touchline to talk to Lionel Scaloni, then shows him a yellow.
89' The foul by Leandro Paredes (Argentina) is worthy of a card and a yellow is duly shown by Antonio Mateu Lahoz.
88' Antonio Mateu Lahoz shows a yellow card to Steven Berghuis (Netherlands) for a tough tackle.
85' Luuk de Jong (Netherlands) missed a big chance! He produces a stunning volley from inside the box, but his effort goes not far wide of the right post.
83' 1 - 2 Goal! Steven Berghuis clips a neat ball into the box in the direction of Wout Weghorst (Netherlands), who jumps highest and steers a bullet header from the centre of the box into the left side of the goal. Emiliano Martinez had no chance of stopping that. 1:2.
82' A substitution has been made. Julian Alvarez goes off and Lautaro Martinez (Argentina) comes on.
78' Louis van Gaal decides to make a substitution. Memphis Depay will be replaced by Wout Weghorst (Netherlands).
78' Lionel Scaloni prepares a substitution. Cristian Gabriel Romero is replaced by German Pezzella (Argentina).
78' The referee stops play so that a substitution can be made and Nicolas Tagliafico (Argentina) comes onto the pitch for Marcos Acuna.
77' PENALTY APPEAL after Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) goes down under a challenge from the defender. All players chase the referee but he's not interested in the penalty claim. Play continues.
76' Lisandro Martinez (Argentina) earns the yellow card.
76' The whistle is blown for an infringement and Memphis Depay (Netherlands) receives a yellow card!
73' 0 - 2 Goal! Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins the battle of wills and sends an unstoppable penalty past Andries Noppert into right side of the goal.
71' Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands) trips an opposition player and Antonio Mateu Lahoz signals a foul. The advantage of a penalty kick is given to Argentina.
67' Lionel Scaloni has decided to substitute Rodrigo de Paul and he is replaced by Leandro Paredes (Argentina).
64' The referee stops play so that a substitution can be made and Daley Blind trots off the pitch and is replaced by Luuk de Jong (Netherlands).
63' Lionel Messi (Argentina) attempts to threaten the goalkeeper from the free kick on the edge of the box. He produces a stunning blast which only flies inches over the crossbar. It could have been a beautiful goal!
46' Half-time substitution. Louis van Gaal decided to make a change. Marten de Roon (Netherlands) is replaced by Teun Koopmeiners.
46' The need to improve in the second half has brought about a change. Steven Bergwijn (Netherlands) comes off for Steven Berghuis.
46' The second half gets underway.
45+7' That is it for the first half after the referee blows his whistle and the players head to their respective dressing rooms.
45+2' Wout Weghorst (Netherlands) gets a yellow card, off the field.
45' Cristian Gabriel Romero (Argentina) is awarded a yellow card.
43' Marcos Acuna (Argentina) will miss the next game.
43' Marcos Acuna (Argentina) can't expect anything else than a yellow card for his hard tackle. And a yellow it is. Antonio Mateu Lahoz didn't think twice about pulling it out of his pocket.
43' Jurrien Timber (Netherlands) is literally asking for a yellow card with his behaviour. The referee agrees and books him.
35' 0 - 1 Nahuel Molina (Argentina) receives a precise pass inside the box from Lionel Messi and he beats the goalkeeper with a neat finish into the left side of the net. 0:1.
1' The first half has just begun.
