Match ends, Argentina 3(4), France 3(2).
ArgentinaArgentina3FranceFrance3
Argentina win 4-2 on penalties
Lionel Messi finally achieved his World Cup dream as Argentina won their third crown on penalties in one of the greatest finals in the tournament's history.
Argentina won the shootout 4-2 after a spectacular game which developed into the much-anticipated confrontation between the 35-year-old maestro Messi and his France opposite number Kylian Mbappe.
France's own superstar scored a hat-trick - the first in a Fifa World Cup final since 1966 - but still ended up on the losing side at Lusail Stadium.
Messi looked to be securing the one major honour missing from his glittering collection in comfort as Argentina cruised into a two-goal lead.
But an explosive intervention from Mbappe, who scored two goals inside two minutes late on.
Messi had given Argentina the lead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute following Ousmane Dembele's foul on Angel di Maria. It made him the first player in World Cup history to score in the group stage, last 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final of a single tournament.
He then contributed a delicate touch within a magnificent counter-attack that ended with Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister setting up Di Maria for the second 13 minutes later.
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Argentina were untroubled until the closing stages, only for Mbappe to give France a lifeline from the penalty spot with nine minutes left - then restore equality with a magnificent volley moments later.
Messi bundled Argentina back in front in extra time, but Mbappe completed his treble from the spot two minutes from the end of a frantic, chaotic added spell.
And so it went to penalties, with the two greats opening the scoring. But Argentina and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved from Kingsley Coman, before Aurelian Tchouameni missed, leaving Gonzalo Montiel to win the World Cup.
Messi, a World Cup winner at last, collapsed to his knees in the centre circle and was engulfed by jubilant Argentina team-mates.
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Tearful Messi reaches peak
Messi stood at the pinnacle of his career as Argentina closed out time in the World Cup final, only for great rival Mbappe to threaten to knock him off and leave him in despair.
Instead, this World Cup - which will now have Messi's name attached to it forever, along with a final that will rank alongside the greats - gave the iconic Argentine the conclusion he wanted.
Messi was imperious for 80 minutes in his final World Cup game as Argentina exerted complete control over a strangely laboured France, scoring his penalty with ease before contributing crucially to a second goal which was a team creation of beauty finished off by Di Maria.
And then came Mbappe. And then came France.
In an atmosphere of disbelief among the massed ranks of Argentina fans who were starting to celebrate victory, Lionel Scaloni's team had to lift themselves once more from the double blow inflicted by Mbappe.
Inevitably it was Messi who gave them hope again, showing he was happy to do the dirty work by turning home a scrambled finish in the box in the second period of extra time - only for Mbappe to answer again.
But Argentina prevailed on penalties and Messi was the centre of attention when Montiel sent the decisive penalty past France keeper Hugo Lloris.
Amid wild scenes of celebration, Messi fell to his knees in tears and raised his arms to the skies, before disappearing beneath a mountain of team-mates.
Messi then took to the microphone to address Argentina's jubilant fans, his Holy Grail reached, another piece of evidence assembled in the argument that would have many declare him the game's greatest player.
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Mbappe the history-maker in defeat
Mbappe cemented his status as one of the game's modern greats with only the second hat-trick in a World Cup final, following Sir Geoff Hurst's when England beat West Germany in 1966. But the 23-year-old still suffered the pain of defeat.
Mbappe was as anonymous as most of his team for the first 80 minutes, ill-served amid an unfathomably poor France display - which they put in despite seeking to become the first side to retain the trophy since Brazil did so 60 years ago, and only the third ever after Italy won in 1934 and 1938.
Manager Didier Deschamps even made two substitutions before half-time, replacing Olivier Giroud and Dembele with Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani.
And yet it was Mbappe who revived France in those sensational seconds when they went from looking like timid losers to potential winners, then getting his third from the spot after Messi had put Argentina back in front.
In a stunning period of extra time during which both sides exchanged chances, France could have won but for a superb last-gasp save by Martinez with his outstretched boot from Muani.
Instead, Mbappe will find history no consolation as he was embraced by his team-mates and French President Emmanuel Macron at the end of this enthralling spectacle.
Player of the match
Mac AllisterAlexis Mac Allister
with an average of 8.01
Argentina
Avg
- Squad number20Player nameMac AllisterAverage rating
8.01
Squad number10Player nameMessiAverage rating7.98
Squad number11Player nameDi MarÃaAverage rating7.85
Squad number23Player nameE MartÃnezAverage rating7.40
Squad number9Player nameÃlvarezAverage rating7.21
Squad number7Player nameDe PaulAverage rating6.84
Squad number24Player nameFernándezAverage rating6.63
Squad number13Player nameRomeroAverage rating6.58
Squad number26Player nameMolinaAverage rating6.27
Squad number3Player nameTagliaficoAverage rating6.22
Squad number4Player nameMontielAverage rating6.21
Squad number5Player nameParedesAverage rating6.03
Squad number21Player nameDybalaAverage rating6.01
Squad number6Player namePezzellaAverage rating5.86
Squad number19Player nameOtamendiAverage rating5.82
Squad number8Player nameAcuñaAverage rating5.74
Squad number22Player nameLa MartÃnezAverage rating5.71
France
Avg
Squad number10Player nameMbappéAverage rating8.00
Squad number12Player nameKolo MuaniAverage rating6.58
Squad number20Player nameComanAverage rating6.54
Squad number26Player nameThuramAverage rating6.15
Squad number25Player nameCamavingaAverage rating5.94
Squad number1Player nameLlorisAverage rating5.93
Squad number24Player nameKonatéAverage rating5.85
Squad number18Player nameUpamecanoAverage rating5.83
Squad number4Player nameVaraneAverage rating5.65
Squad number13Player nameFofanaAverage rating5.51
Squad number14Player nameRabiotAverage rating5.50
Squad number8Player nameTchouaméniAverage rating5.45
Squad number5Player nameKoundéAverage rating5.30
Squad number22Player nameHernándezAverage rating5.18
Squad number7Player nameGriezmannAverage rating4.94
Squad number3Player nameDisasiAverage rating4.87
Squad number9Player nameGiroudAverage rating4.71
Squad number11Player nameDembéléAverage rating3.89
Line-ups
Argentina
Formation 4-3-3
- 23E MartÃnezBooked at 126mins
- 26MolinaSubstituted forMontielat 90'minutesBooked at 116mins
- 13Romero
- 19Otamendi
- 3TagliaficoSubstituted forDybalaat 120+1'minutes
- 7De PaulSubstituted forParedesat 102'minutesBooked at 114mins
- 24FernándezBooked at 45mins
- 20Mac AllisterSubstituted forPezzellaat 116'minutes
- 10Messi
- 9ÃlvarezSubstituted forLa MartÃnezat 103'minutes
- 11Di MarÃaSubstituted forAcuñaat 64'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 1Armani
- 2Foyth
- 4Montiel
- 5Paredes
- 6Pezzella
- 8Acuña
- 12Rulli
- 14Palacios
- 15Correa
- 16Almada
- 17Gómez
- 18RodrÃguez
- 21Dybala
- 22La MartÃnez
- 25Li MartÃnez
France
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Lloris
- 5KoundéSubstituted forDisasiat 120+1'minutes
- 4VaraneSubstituted forKonatéat 113'minutes
- 18Upamecano
- 22HernándezSubstituted forCamavingaat 71'minutes
- 8Tchouaméni
- 14RabiotBooked at 55minsSubstituted forFofanaat 96'minutes
- 11DembéléSubstituted forKolo Muaniat 41'minutes
- 7GriezmannSubstituted forComanat 71'minutes
- 10Mbappé
- 9GiroudBooked at 90minsSubstituted forThuramat 41'minutesBooked at 87mins
Substitutes
- 2Pavard
- 3Disasi
- 6Guendouzi
- 12Kolo Muani
- 13Fofana
- 15Veretout
- 16Mandanda
- 17Saliba
- 20Coman
- 23Aréola
- 24Konaté
- 25Camavinga
- 26Thuram
- Referee:
- Szymon Marciniak
- Attendance:
- 88,966
Match Stats
Home TeamArgentinaAway TeamFrance
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home26
- Away19
Live Text
Post update
Penalties over
Penalty Shootout ends, Argentina 3(4), France 3(2).
Post update
Goal! Argentina 3(4), France 3(2). Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Booking
Emiliano MartÃnez (Argentina) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Goal! Argentina 3(3), France 3(2). Randal Kolo Muani (France) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
Post update
Goal! Argentina 3(3), France 3(1). Leandro Paredes (Argentina) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Aurélien Tchouaméni (France) right footed shot is close, but misses to the left. Aurélien Tchouaméni should be disappointed.
Post update
Goal! Argentina 3(2), France 3(1). Paulo Dybala (Argentina) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Penalty saved! Kingsley Coman (France) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Goal! Argentina 3(1), France 3(1). Lionel Messi (Argentina) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Goal! Argentina 3, France 3(1). Kylian Mbappé (France) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalties in progress
Penalty Shootout begins Argentina 3, France 3.
Post update
Second Half Extra Time ends, Argentina 3, France 3.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lautaro MartÃnez (Argentina) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Gonzalo Montiel following a fast break.
Post update
Attempt saved. Randal Kolo Muani (France) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ibrahima Konaté with a through ball.
Post update
Offside, Argentina. Lionel Messi tries a through ball, but Lautaro MartÃnez is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Argentina. Paulo Dybala replaces Nicolás Tagliafico.
Substitution
Substitution, France. Axel Disasi replaces Jules Koundé.
Post update
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Jules Koundé.
Post update
Goal! Argentina 3, France 3. Kylian Mbappé (France) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
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Comments
Join the conversation
Yet another HYS on Messi?
Are the BBC sports writers paid per Messi article or something?
This is a bit like "Steven Garrard's Aston Villa" headlines back in the day.
Mbappe and Greizmann will light up the final.
Giroud to score the winner.
Desire the Right
Especially if a French win ends the sickening Messi love fest of the BBC.