LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Lionel Messi’s once-in-a-generation career is complete. The Argentina superstar is finally a World Cup champion.
Messi scored two goals and then another in a shootout as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties Sunday to claim a third World Cup title despite Kylian Mbappé scoring the first hat trick in a final in 56 years.
Now there’s no debate. Messi is definitively in the pantheon of soccer’s greatest ever players, alongside Pelé — a record three-time World Cup champion from Brazil — and Diego Maradona, the late Argentina great with whom Messi was so often compared.
Messi has achieved what Maradona did in 1986, dominate a World Cup for Argentina.
Messi put Argentina ahead from the penalty spot and played a part in Angel Di Maria’s goal that made it 2-0 after 36 minutes.
Mbappé scored two goals in a 97-second span to take the game to extra time, and then Messi tapped in his second goal in the 109th minute. But there was still time for another penalty from Mbappé to take the thrilling game to a shootout.
Gonzalo Montiel scored the clinching penalty kick after Kingsley Coman had an attempt saved by Emi Martinez and Aurelien Tchouameni missed for France.
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Rodrigo Abd - staff, AP
Argentine soccer fans gather at the Obelisk landmark during a rally in support of the national soccer team, a day ahead of the World Cup final against France, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022.
Martin Meissner - staff, AP
The flags of Argentina and France hang from the roof of the stadium ahead of the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Pavel Golovkin - staff, AP
A flypast of takes place over the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, where the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France is going to be played on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
A fan of France cheers prior to the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Petr David Josek - staff, AP
Argentinian fans cheer before the the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Petr David Josek - staff, AP
Argentinian fans cheer before the the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Petr David Josek - staff, AP
An Argentinian places a poster of their star player Lionel Messi's before the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
Entertainers perform during the tournament closing ceremony prior to the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Martin Meissner - staff, AP
Artists perform during the closing ceremony ahead of the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Martin Meissner - staff, AP
Swedish soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic, left, shakes hands with France's President Emmanuel Macron gestures on the tribune ahead of the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Martin Meissner - staff, AP
France's President Emmanuel Macron, center, gestures as he arrives on the tribune ahead of the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Christophe Ena - staff, AP
Fireworks go off on the pitch ahead of the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Manu Fernandez - staff, AP
Argentina's Lionel Messi scores his side's opening goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec.18, 2022.
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
Players of Argentina celebrate with Angel Di Maria after he scored his side's second goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Christophe Ena - staff, AP
France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates his side's first goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Martin Meissner - staff, AP
France's head coach Didier Deschamps, left, speaks towards the Argentina bench during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
France's Kylian Mbappe, right, scores his side's second goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Martin Meissner - staff, AP
France's Kylian Mbappe runs past Argentina's Lionel Messi as he retrieves the ball after scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Francisco Seco - staff, AP
France's Kylian Mbappe, right, watches Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
Argentina's Lionel Messi, right, scores his side's first goal passing France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.
Manu Fernandez - staff, AP
Argentina players celebrate winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec.18, 2022.
Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after scoring Argentina's first goal of the World Cup final.
