Lionel Messi celebrates after Argentina scores in the World Cup final against France.AP Photo/Martin Meissner
- Argentina defeated France in the World Cup final after penalty kicks.
- Messi and company prevailed in quite possibly the greatest match in sports history.
Argentina outlasted France in a wild World Cup final that will go down in history as one of the greatest sporting finals ever.
After Messi led Argentina to an early lead, Les Bleus erased a 2-0 deficit at halftime to force extra time. Both teams scored in extra time, and Argentina eventually prevailed on penalties.
It is the third World Cup win for Argentina, and their first since 1986. The win cements Messi's status as the GOAT, filling the only empty slot left in his prolific trophy case.
Below we go through all the wild moments that made this World Cup final a match that will never be forgotten.
Through the first half, Argentina controlled all of the action, with France looking largely lifeless. While Argentina pushed the pace, France continually played catch up.
Eventually, Argentina broke through, with Ángel Di María driving dangerously into the box and earning a penalty.
Lionel Messi stepped up to the penalty spot, forced French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to move first, and put the ball in the back of the net.
In the stadium, Argentinian fans couldn't contain themselves, as they took a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute.
Just 10 minutes later, Argentina struck again, with a brilliant series of one-touch passes setting up Di María for the finish. It was one of the prettiest team goals of the World Cup.
The cheers could be heard across Argentina.
Meanwhile, Argentina's manager Lionel Scaloni kept his cool.
With a 2-0 lead at halftime, Argentina looked ready to put the win away, but France would strike back in the second half.
France's Kylian Mbappé celebrates a goal against Argentina in the World Cup final. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Argentina controlled the match until the 71st minute, when Mbappé recorded France's first shot of the day.
But with a taste of progress, France began to roll. Minutes later, Randal Kolo Muani drew a penalty while attacking the box.
Mbappé stepped to the spot and put France on the board. The reigning World Cup champions suddenly had life.
From there, France was running downhill and left a dazed Argentinian defense in the dust. Mbappé received a ball free and one-timed a brilliant second goal to tie the match.
With the goal, Mbappé took the lead over Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, though neither player was likely thinking of that at the time.
In 90 seconds, Argentina had seen a 2-0 lead vanish. The Buenos Aires crowd that was once deafening was now stunned.
France kept their foot on the gas through stoppage time and nearly finished Argentina off then and there.
Messi countered with his own brilliant chance in the final moments of stoppage time, with Lloris stopping a monstrous shot from the top of the box.
But after neither team could find a winner, the World Cup final was heading to extra time.
After getting rattled in the second half, Argentina found its form again in extra time, producing an early chance.
The close calls continued to add up.
In the second period of extra time, Argentina finally broke through, with Messi pushing the ball just past the line.
It was a moment Messi had been waiting for his entire career. The greatest player in the history of the sport was once again on the cusp of winning the one trophy that had eluded him.
While the goal went to a check for offside, Argentina was found to be on by the skin of a French butt.
But France would not go quietly. Les Bleus continued to push, and in the 116th minute, earned another penalty on a handball.
Mbappé stepped up and completed his hat trick, tying the match 3-3.
Once again, Argentina was on the back foot, and France pounced, nearly netting a game-winner in the 119th minute.
In stoppage time, Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martínez made the save of his life to keep his country in the match.
With the save, the World Cup final would head to penalty kicks.
Mbappé stepped up first for France. Again, he was true from the spot.
Messi matched Mbappé on Argentina's first kick. From here, both superstars could only watch as their teammates decided their fate.
Argentina took the advantage with a huge save from Martinez.
Argentina put their foot on the gas.
Argentina refused to miss.
And with their fourth penalty kick, Argentina won the World Cup.
Messi finally won the one prize he had never gotten his hands on. He's the greatest of all time.
Congratulations to Argentina. It's a match that soccer fans will never forget.
