Argentina squad celebrates their World Cup win in Qatar.
Lionel Messi’s conquest of the global game is complete. At the climax of the most exhausting, see-sawing, nerve-shredding World Cup final ever staged, the Argentina captain bowed out of international football with his defining masterpiece, a match-winning star turn to seize the one prize that had eluded him. Aged 35, the greatest player of his generation, perhaps of any generation, has found his ultimate fulfilment.
But how agonisingly the gratification was delayed. Twice France, turbo-charged by the jet heels of Kylian Mbappe, struck back from seemingly certain defeat to hold up Messi’s coronation. It was testament to the astounding quality of this match that Mbappe, 23, scored the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst in 1966 – and still lost. Messi, knowing this was his last dance, refused to be thwarted, stroking home his penalty in the shoot-out before France folded.
As delirium engulfed Lusail Stadium, this shimmering golden palace in the Qatari desert, Messi’s three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, all raced on to the pitch to embrace him. Their urge was shared by just about every man, woman and child in Argentina.
From the streets of Messi’s native Rosario to the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, an entire country had craved this World Cup triumph with a febrile intensity. Now they have their third, breaking a 36-year drought since their last. And what makes it infinitely sweeter is that Messi, their diminutive demi-god, has his first.
Among those celebrating was the Prince of Wales, who tweeted: "What. A. Final. Congratulations to Argentina and to Messi. Commiserations to France – both teams played brilliantly." The message was signed 'W' – indicating it was written by the heir to the throne himself.
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