Lionel Messi inspires Argentina to World Cup glory as Kylian Mbappe hat trick not enough for France in epic final
dailyrecord.co.ukLionel Messi survived a stunning comeback from Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe - who became the first player since Geoff Hurst to score a hat trick in the final - to lead Argentina to World Cup glory in a dramatic Qatar 2022 final with a penalty shoot-out win.
On a remarkable, roller-coaster night in the Lusail Stadium in Qatar the South Americans were two goals up and looked to be cruising after Messi netted from the penalty spot with his sixth of the tournament before Angel Di Maria bagged a second with France, hit by a virus before the game, lacklustre.
Didier Deschamps made a double change before the break with Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele taken off. But Mbappe scored twice within 95 seconds as the game entered the final 10 minutes to turn the final at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on its head and take it to extra time.
But Messi scored in the 19th minute of added time for what looked like being the winner only for Mbappe score a second from the spot and force spot kicks but Argentina held their nerve to win on spot kicks with Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez the hero in a 4-2 shoot-out victory with France missing twice.
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