{"id":161719,"date":"2022-12-18T23:45:11","date_gmt":"2022-12-18T23:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/messis-argentina-beats-france-on-penalties-in-epic-world-cup-final\/"},"modified":"2022-12-18T23:45:11","modified_gmt":"2022-12-18T23:45:11","slug":"messis-argentina-beats-france-on-penalties-in-epic-world-cup-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/messis-argentina-beats-france-on-penalties-in-epic-world-cup-final\/","title":{"rendered":"Messi’s Argentina beats France on penalties in epic World Cup final"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Argentina beat France in the World Cup final on penalty kicks as an epic clash played out during a pulsating 3-3 draw in normal time, as Lionel Messi won his legacy defining World Cup.<\/p>\n

The GOAT debates are now over. Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time.<\/p>\n

This final may have been the greatest sporting event of all time.<\/p>\n

[ MORE: List of Messi\u2019s career honors ]<\/strong><\/p>\n

The victory secured Argentina’s third World Cup title in their history and their first since 1986. It is Lionel Messi’s first World Cup title as the 35-year-old was mobbed by his teammates at the final whistle amid tears, relief and unbridled joy.<\/p>\n

This is what it is all about. And this game delivered one of the greatest sporting finals of all time as for just the third time in history, the World Cup was decided on penalty kicks.<\/p>\n

WATCH FULL REPLAY<\/b><\/p>\n

Lionel Messi scored the opener and set up the second for Angel di Maria as Argentina were 2-0 up at half time but with 10 minutes of normal time to go Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty and then smashed home another soon after to make it 2- 2 and send the game to extra time.<\/p>\n

Messi put Argentina 3-2 up late in extra time as it looked like he had won it, again, for Argentina. But then Mbappe won another penalty kick and finished it to score a hat trick and make it 3-3 as he became just the second player in history to score a hat trick in the World Cup final.<\/p>\n

[ LIVE:<\/b> World Cup 2022 schedule, how to watch, scores, hub<\/b> ] <\/b><\/p>\n

Both teams had chances to win it in regulation but then Emiliano Martinez was the hero as he saved Coman’s penalty kick and Aurelien Tchouameni missed for France, as Argentina scored all four of theirs and Montiel slotted home the winning penalty kick.<\/p>\n

Cue wild scenes in Qatar, back in Argentina and from football lovers around the world as Lionel Messi finally won the World Cup his legacy deserved.<\/p>\n

[ MORE: World Cup final odds, favorites, lines ]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Messi gets career defining win as epic finale delivers drama galore<\/h2>\n