Lionel Messi led his team to victory over the defending world champions as 88,000 watched in the stadium and many more watched from home. The last time the South American country tasted a world cup victory was 36 years ago. That was the most talked about world cup final match when Diego Maradona scored his famous “Hand of God” goal during that ¬nal game in Mexico. Argentina was also unlucky in the 1990 edition when they were beaten 1-0 by West Germany.
The side beat defending champions France 4-2 on penalties after drawing 3-3 after extra time in front of an 88,000-strong crowd in Qatar. Fans who had travelled to the Middle East cheered as the players were driven by an open-top bus through the streets outside Lusail Stadium.
A bus with the celebrating Argentina players, who wave to their fans, travels from the Lusail Stadium after they won the World Cup Final defeating France on penalties, in Lusail, Qatar, Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. In the Argentinean capital Buenos Aires, hundreds of thousands of people celebrated their team's ¬rst world championship since 1986. It was a rare moment of joy for a country struggling with high inflation and an economic crisis that has pushed some 40% of the population into poverty. Diego Aburgeily, 46, another fan, said: "This team made people fall in love with them for the ¬rst time in decades.
The star of the game was Argentinean captain Lionel Messi, who scored twice at the Lusail Stadium, and was crowned player of the tournament. Messi, 35, later quashed rumours that he might be about to retire from the sport, telling Argentinean TV: "I want to keep experiencing a few more matches as world champion.
The top scorer accolade belonged to Paris Saint-Germaine forward Kylian Mbappe, who scored eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final, winning him the Golden Boot award. After the match, several UK sports commentators said the ¬nal would go down in history as one of the greatest games of football ever.
Alan Shearer said: "We're breathless up here. It was just an unbelievable ¬nal. It was great to be here, a pleasure to be here. "I've never seen anything like it and I don't think I'll ever see anything like it again. It was staggering." Gary Lineker said: "It's been an absolute privilege to watch Lionel Messi for nearly two decades.
Moment after moment of spellbinding, breathtakingly joyous football. He's a gift from the football Gods." he said. Gary Neville said: "Messi should be the centre of attention and it feels right that he has won a World Cup. For the French fans, there was disappointment and President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: "Congratulations to the French team for its career and its combativeness in this World Cup.
"You have thrilled the nation and supporters around the world. Congratulations to Argentina for their victory." stated Macron The match wrapped up what had been one of the most controversial World Cups in history - with pre-tournament rows raging over the treatment of migrant workers, LGBT+ rights and the shift of the tournament to winter to avoid the baking summer heat.
The next World Cup ¬nals will be held in the US, Mexico and Canada – the first time the tournament will have been co-hosted since Japan and South Korea in 2002.
