Argentina won its third World Cup by defeating France 4-2 on penalties following a 3-3 draw that featured two goals from the 35-year-old Messi and a hat trick from France forward Kylian Mbappe. This match was likely the wildest final in the tournament's 92-year history.
Messi and Mbappe converted the opening penalties for their respective teams. Emi Martinez, the goalkeeper for Argentina, stopped a shot from Kingsley Coman, and when France's Aurelien Tchouameni missed, Gonzalo Montiel scored the game-winning goal. He successfully altered the penalty to the left, setting up a riot of cheers.
Since 2006, Europe has won the World Cup four times. Brazil, also in Asia, won the last South American championship in 2002 when Japan and South Korea jointly hosted the event.
Argentina repeated its Copa America victory from the previous year in Qatar, declaring its first significant prize since 1993. It's a thrilling conclusion to Messi's still-unfinished international career. After the game, he declared he would keep playing for the national team.
