Lionel Messi and Argentina won the World Cup after a dramatic 120 minutes, with Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick threatening to derail celebrations before the South Americans prevailed on penalties.
Mbappe was going toe to toe with Paris Saint-Germain colleague Messi in Qatar, and but was the veteran who got the early upper hand in his final World Cup appearance. Messi put Argentina ahead from the spot in the first half after Ousmane Dembele's foul on Angel Di Maria, before Di Maria himself made it two before the break.
France had looked hard to beat throughout the tournament as they sought to go back-to-back after beating Croatia in the 2018 final. With 10 minutes to go it looked done and dusted for Argentina, only for Mbappe to remind them he can never be written off.
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France were not their usual selves in the first half after a bout of illness in the squad leading into the game. They didn't have a single shot on goal in the first hour of the game, and made a double change five minutes before the interval.
Argentina waited for the France onslaught after the break, but it took a long time to arrive. The first French goal came out of nothing, with Mbappe putting away a penalty after Nicolas Otamendi's foul on Randal Kolo Muani, and the frontman scored his second in Les Bleus' very next attack.
Argentina survived eight long minutes of stoppage time, with a big save from Emi Martinez along the way, and forced 30 minutes of extra-time in which substitute Lautaro Martinez twice went close. Messi looked to have found the winner, though, mopping up after Hugo Lloris saved from Martinez to send Argentina's fans wild, only for Mbappe to complete his hat-trick with a second penalty after a Gonzalo Montiel handball.
Eventually it went to penalties, and it went the way of Argentina with Montiel scoring the decisive spot-kick. Here are Mirror Football's talking points from a momentous game at Lusail Stadium.
1. Messi on a mission
Lionel Messi has been making up for lost time in Qatar, as if he knew how much this tournament could shape his legacy. After scoring his first ever World Cup knockout goal in the last-16 victory over Australia, he followed it up with further efforts in the quarters, semis and now the final.
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Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot (Image: Getty Images)
Yes, the opener was a penalty, but spot-kicks have been Messi's kryptonite at times. A save from Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in Argentina's vital final group game threatened to make the PSG star the villain of the piece, but he sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way to go three for three in the knockout rounds.
As for the final itself, Messi led by example as he has done for much of the tournament. He even came close to a late winner after France's comeback, stinging the palms of Hugo Lloris from range, and thought he'd scored the deciding goal in extra-time only for France to fight back again.
2. Mbappe strikes out of nothing
For some it was a case of Messi v Mbappe, and it looked for most of the game like there would only be one winner. Mbappe scored in the 2018 final, but didn't come close in the opening hour as Les Bleus were not even close to threatening Emi Martinez's goal.
The PSG forward looked unstoppable earlier in the tournament, not least in France's last-16 victory over Poland. Before the game, there were suggestions he might be saving his best for the final, such is his aura, but he kept us waiting a very long time.
Mbappe had a quiet opening hour before coming to life (Image: Getty Images)
The relatively subdued displays against England and Morocco looked like they were being followed by another against Argentina, with his first shot - 70 minutes in - flying over.. France's entire front-line were out of sorts early on, though, and eventually it felt as though Mbappe decided "fine, I'll do it all myself"..
The 23-year-old scored his first from the penalty spot, beating Emi Martinez's desperate dive. Less than two minutes later, he had his second with a spectacular finish, all out of nothing. That's what a superstar is supposed to do in a final, and it doesn't always happen that way.
3. Di Maria with a fond World Cup farewell
It hasn't been the best of years for Angel Di Maria. Argentina's hero at the 2021 Copa America left PSG over the summer, suffered Champions League elimination with new club Juventus, and lost his place in Lionel Scaloni's side earlier in the tournament.
Angel Di Maria signed off with a fantastic goal on the break (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
It was a surprise to some when Di Maria was recalled for the final. He is a big game player, though, and so it proved as he won a penalty before doubling his side's lead.
Some Argentina fans will be haunted by misses from previous finals, not least Gonzalo Higuain's profligacy in the 2014 loss to Germany. Having someone with ice running through his veins was a boost, and the manager deserves credit for trusting Di Maria at Lusail Stadium.
4. Early subs as France hurt by illness
It was hard to know just how severe the outbreak of illness ripping through France's squad would prove to be. As it happens, it looked to have really taken its toll on Didier Deschamps' defending champions.
Dembele and Giroud were both withdrawn early (Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
Dayot Upamecano was healthy enough to start the game after missing the semi-final, while Olivier Giroud led the line after being considered a doubt during the week. In the end, 40 minutes was all Giroud could muster, and he made way - along with Dembele - before half-time.
A first-half substitution without an injury is a rarity. To do it in a final is even rarer. To make a double change so early in a game is a sign that a lot has gone wrong.
5. Injuries can't be ignored
The injuries suffered by France players in the lead-up to the tournament would have done for most national sides. That France even got this far speaks to the depth in their ranks, but this proved to be one game too many.
Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, Presnel Kimpembe and Christopher Nkunku were already ruled out when Karim Benzema, Ballon d'Or winner earlier this year, lost his battle to return to fitness. Add in the horror injury suffered by Lucas Hernandez in the first group game and it's some list.
Despite all this, France didn't just make it to the final but they did so as - arguably if not absolutely - the better side in each of their knockout games. To dig in and force extra-time after all those setbacks wasn't just impressive, it almost felt like it should have been impossible.
6. Tale of three penalties
For much of the game, it felt like a contentious penalty would be the biggest talking point. Dembele's foul on Di Maria set Argentina on their way, and it was a foolish challenge from a man not used to defending in his own area.
Otamendi's foul gave France a lifeline (Image: PA)
If we can say Dembele had an excuse, Nicolas Otamendi surely did not. Had he not grabbed hold of Kolo Muani, there's every chance the forward wouldn't have threatened Martinez's goal, but instead his arm on his opponent changed the course of a game which had looked comfortable.
There was another French appeal when Marcus Thuram went down, only for the referee to bravely show him a yellow card which drew few complaints. And then, with time running out, Montiel's arm went out and Szymon Marciniak pointed to the spot one more time. Thankfully for the Argentina man, he eventually had a chance for redemption in the shoot-out.
7. Unsung heroes make an impact
Four years ago, few would have anticipated a Brighton midfielder featuring in a World Cup final. Even fewer would have expected one to start for his country and play a leading role in one of their goals.
Alexis Mac Allister gave as good as he got for Argentina (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Alexis Mac Allister started the tournament on the bench, but seized his opportunity. The 23-year-old scored in the victory over Poland, earning him starts in each of the knockout games, while Enzo Fernandez has been similarly impressive after forcing his way into the team.
In France's case, Kolo Muani was the unlikely star. The Eintracht Frankfurt man was not even named in the original squad, eventually replacing the injured Nkunku, and went into the tournament without an international goal to his name.
That changed in the semi-final when he netted moments after coming off the bench against Morocco. His influence in the final was just as important, winning the penalty which offered his team a route back in, and he was desperately close to snatching victory in the final minute of stoppage time only for Martinez to produce a massive save.
Randal Kolo Muani made a big impact from the bench (Image: Getty Images)
When Argentina introduced Marcos Acuna from the bench midway through the second half, it might be notable that it was Di Maria - in his final World Cup - who made way. If the veteran is Argentina's past and present, Mac Allister and Fernandez are the future.
8. Spot-kicks the most heartbreaking end
After such a tense end to the game, it almost felt unfair for a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner. As tired legs stepped forward, though, that's exactly what we got.
Both teams could have snatched victory in extra-time, even after Mbappe's leveller. Kolo Muani and Martinez both came close, but neither side could avoid the shoot-out.
Mbappe made no mistake after stepping up first, with Messi following suit. It would have been harsh on either man to miss from 12 yards after all that came before.
The goalkeepers had a chance to become the heroes, with Emi Martinez denying Kingsley Coman before Aurelien Tchouameni fired wide. Argentina weren't letting that advantage slip this time.
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