Argentina Are Crowned World Champions In Qatar For The Third Time In History.

Lionel Messi has led Argentina to World Cup glory after the most thrilling final in the 92-year history of the tournament.

Argentina took the lead through Messi and Angel Di Maria, only for Kylian Mbappe to score a late brace. Messi restored Argentina’s lead in extra time, but Mbappe again hit back for France, completing his hat-trick and taking the game to a penalty shootout at the Lusail Stadium.

Di Maria who was a surprise inclusion in an attacking Argentina line up and quickly went about repaying head coach Lionel Scaloni's faith in an explosive start.

The Juventus winger dribbles past Ousmane Dembele and enters the box, which resulted  into a clumsy foul in the area, albeit with minimal contact from Dembele, who had put his arm on his opponent from behind. The referee points to the spot for a penalty.

Messi duly stepped-up to score his sixth goal of the tournament, sending Hugo Lloris the wrong way to give Argentina the lead in the 23rd minute.

Di Maria then crowned a sumptuous counter-attack, where Messi, Julian Alvarez and the brilliant Alexis MacAllister all combined leading to a sensational team goal increases the lead to two goals.

La Albiceleste thought they were going all the way, but Kolo Muani bustles his way past Otamendi down the inside-left channel and enters the box. Otamendi tries to battle his way back, but can’t get goalside and brings his man down, and a penalty for France.

Kylian Mbappe sends the penalty into the bottom left. It’s not perfect, as Emi Martinez gets fingers to it, but the keeper couldn't stop it.

As if that was not enough, Mbappe stylishly firec Les Bleus level 2-2 seconds later in the most dramatic turnaround.

Heading into the extra-time, Lautaro Martínez blasts a shot at Hugo Lloris. The French goalkeeper makes the initial save but the rebound falls to Lionel Messi’s feet and he scores. Argentina take the lead once again 3-2 in the 108th minute.

But Messi's Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe became the second man in World Cup final history to score a hat-trick, twice holding his nerve from the penalty spot in a pulsating 3-3 draw, penalties was left to decide the world champion.

Mbappe scores again from the spot at the start of the shootout, but Kinglsey Coman’s spot-kick was saved by Emiliano Martinez and Aurelien Tchoumeni fired wide. Messi, Paulo Dybala and Leandro Paredes all converted, leaving Gonzalo Montiel to send Hugo Lloris the wrong way and secure his country’s third World Cup.

Argentina won the shootout 4-2, to claim the World Cup and victory in one of the sport’s all-time great games.

The Emir of Qatar and Fifa president Gianni Infantino hand over the golden prize. Messi takes possession of the holy grail, in front of his team-mates … then hoists the World Cup high into the air! Fireworks! Dancing! Glee! Argentina are champions of the world!