Last on Sunday, completing his World Cup career by securing the one major title that had been elusive.
On Sunday, Argentina won their third World Cup in remarkable fashion, defeating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw. Kylian M B-A P-E scored a hat trick for the hosts, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit after 80 minutes to win.
One of the greatest finals of all time came about as a result of an incredible tournament that was capped by an incredible night of drama and shifting fortunes.
After Messi's penalty and Angel Di Maria's brilliant goal in the first half gave Argentina complete control, they appeared to be on their way to a one-sided victory. However, M B-A P-E converted a penalty in the 80th minute and scored an equalizer a minute later to send the game into extra time.
After Messi put Argentina ahead once more, M B-A P-E equalized with a second penalty and became the second player since Geoff Hurst for England in 1966 to score a hat trick in the World Cup final.
The greatest player of his generation, possibly of all time, won the World Cup final, arguably the greatest of all time.
Messi was a beacon of calm amid frequent outbreaks of pandemonium at the L U S-A-I L Stadium as Argentina twice squandered winning positions, eventually taking the title on penalties after the game finished 3-3 in extra time. It was a perfectly scripted farewell for the 35-year-old Argentine captain, who was playing in what he has stated will be his fifth and final World Cup tournament.
A massive television screen played a tribute to the late Diego Maradona, showing clips of his legendary goal against England at the 1986 World Cup. Before the game even started, Argentina's raucous fans roared their appreciation.
That provided Messi with all the motivation he needed to help Argentina win their first World Cup title in 36 years.
Maradona had also been the driving force behind Argentina's 3-2 victory over West Germany in 1986, when they lost a 2-0 lead.
When Argentina lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final at the M-A R-A C-A N-A S T-A D-I U M by a score of 1-0 after extra time, Messi had cut a melancholy figure.
After that defeat, Messi was faced with the possibility of becoming the only person to lead his nation to defeat in two World Cup finals, joining German legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
On Sunday, however, it became immediately clear that Messi had no intention of joining that undesirable club.
Messi settled into his rhythm shortly after the game began, grabbing Angel Di Maria repeatedly down the left flank and demanding possession with the usual grace.
And on 21 minutes, after Di Maria was brought down inside the area by O U S M-A N-E D-E M B-E L-E, Messi stepped up and calmly converted a penalty, scoring his 97th international goal and 12th World Cup goal.
Drama in extra time
In the celebrations that followed, Messi was buried under a mountain of Argentine teammates, but he quickly got back on his feet and tormented France.
L O R-I S saved L-A U T-A R O Martinez's shot, but Messi, anticipating the rebound, scored from close range to make it 3-2. In extra time, Argentina substitute Gonzalo Montiel missed a penalty, which M B-A P-E converted to make it 3-3 from the spot. After the stunning match, which ended 3-3 after 120 absorbing minutes and featured a hat trick from Kylian M B-A P-E and three penalties that were successfully converted, Messi gave hugs to his family and teammates
You must be logged in to post a comment.