Lionel Messi stars as Argentina defeat France on penalties to win 3rd World Cup crown

Doha: Lionel Messi and Argentina finally won the World Cup on penalties as Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick went in vain on Sunday.

Messi scored a brace and Di Maria also put in one as Argentina had full control of the game until Mbappe powered an incredible comeback from France as the match ended 3-3 after extra time.

Argentina started the brightest of the two sides. In the third minute, a ball from Di Maria had Alvarez on goal, but the resultant shot was easily grabbed by Hugo Lloris.

Alexis MacAllister had a shot at the goal but it was straight at Lloris in the fifth minute. The Albiceleste continued attacking the French goal and De Paul’s shot was deflected by Varane.

It took until the 13th minute for France to get an attack going with Mbappe at the centre of things. But it quickly fizzled out. Argentina continued to be on the front foot and Di Maria had a good chance to get the opener. However, his shot went well over the bar and into the crowd.

France got a freekick outside the box near the left-hand side and Griezmann’s cross was hit by Giroud but went well over. It was deemed as a foul by the French striker on the defender.

Dembele then conceded a penalty in the 21st minute of the game as he tripped Di Maria. Messi stepped up to the spot and made no mistake as he put it to the left of Lloris to give Argentina the deserved lead in the 23rd minute.

The Albicelsete were still in control of the game and were dictating things as France just couldn’t stitch together something useful.

Argentina then scored their second goal after a brilliant team move in the 36th minute as Messi started things up with a pass to Alvarez. The striker then fed the ball to MacAllister who setup Di Maria, whose shot went past Lloris.

France then made a double switch in the 41st minute as Giroud and Dembele were taken off and replaced by Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram as Deschamps looked to find some way back into the contest.

The half ended with Argentina firmly in control with France having a lot to do.

The second half started almost in the same vain as the first one with Argentina looking to get a third goal and kill off the game. De Paul had a volley on goal in the 48th minute but it was easily saved.