Argentina wins the World Cup
Lionel Messi delivered two goals and converted a penalty to pick up his first World Cup title.
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Argentina's Lionel Messi waves after receiving the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament at the end of the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP)
Lionel Messi had two goals and a score in penalties in the World Cup final against France. He was awarded the Golden Ball for the second time as the best player in the tournament.
Argentina World Cup fans went wild after the team secured a win in penalties.
Click here for the World Cup recap.
Argentina defeated France in penalties to win the World Cup.
France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring from the penalty spot his side's third goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi scored in extra time.
The World Cup final is going to penalties.
Argentina's Gonzalo Montiel was called for a hand ball in the box and set up the penalty for Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe got the ball in the back of the net to tie the match again.
Argentina scores its go-ahead goal in the 108th minute of the match from Lionel Messi in what was a wild sequence in extra time
There was some pressure on French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris toward the end of extra time but Argentina couldn't get another one past him.
The game is still tied 2-2 with penalties looming unless someone scores.
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. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
The World Cup final is in extra time. There are two 15-minute extra-time sessions regardless whether any goals are scored.
Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria scored in the first half for Argentina and it looked like the men in blue and white stripes were going to run away with it. But France’s Kylian Mbappe made sure that didn’t happen.
Mbappe scored two late goals to lift France out of the cellar.The match is tied 2-2.
In the 97th minute, Lionel Messi got another chance to get the go-ahead score but this time French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was there to knock away the rocket.
In the 94th minute, the French got another chance to take the lead but Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez came through with its first save of the match.
Two quick goals from France and the World Cup is now tied.
Mbappe has both goals.
Folks, there is life.
France scored in the 80th minute on a Kylian Mbappe penalty. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez got a hand on it.
France down 2-1.
France's Kylian Mbappe, left, and Argentina's Enzo Fernandez vie for the ball during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec.18, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
France's Kylian Mbappe took the squad's first shot in the 71st minute of their World Cup final match against Argentina.
Argentina has locked down France for a majority of the match.
Argentina is up 2-0 with about 30 minutes to play. Should the lead hold, Argentina would have won its third World Cup title.
France has yet to register a shot on goal in this match. Argentina has dominated in this match.
The second half is underway and France will need to really start pushing if they want a chance to come back and shock Argentina.
No shots for France in the first half.
Argentina's Angel Di Maria celebrates after 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. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria put Argentina up 2-0 over France in the first half of the World Cup final. Messi scored on a penalty and Di Maria came through on a nice touch pass later in the half.
Argentina is looking for its third World Cup title and appear to be on the brink of completing the goal. It would be Messi's first-ever championship and a great way to go out of the national competition.
Argentina has broken the match open.
Beautiful touches from the Argentine players ended with a Ángel Di María shot past France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Argentina is rolling.
Elon Musk appeared in Qatar for the World Cup final between Argentina and France. A Qatari TV broadcaster showed up coming into the stadium and more tweets showed him interacting with fans.
Musk posted his own tweet from his seat.
Click here to read more about Musk's appearance in Qatar.
Argentina's Lionel Messi controls the ball during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
In the biggest moment of his playing career, Lionel Messi puts Argentina up 1-0 on France. He scored on a penalty.
French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris went down for a bit when a player was pushed into him as he tried to make a play on the ball.
Medical personnel came out to attend to Lloris as he grabbed his abdomen. He appeared to be OK.
Argentina is getting a few shots off early on France and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. One attempt was called offside and the other attempt caromed off a French player and set up a corner in the 9th minute.
France and Argentina have kicked off.
Here we go!
Argentina's Lionel Messi takes part during a training session of Argentina national team on the eve of the final soccer match between Argentina and France in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Lionel Messi only has about 90 more minutes of play for the Argentina national team to secure his first World Cup title and solidify his spot as the greatest soccer player of all time.
Only France – the defending World Cup champions – and Kylian Mbappe – the best player in the world right now – stand in his way. Ric Flair once said, “To be the best, you gotta beat the best.” The motto will come into full force today when the two teams matchup.
A World Cup title is the only thing missing on Messi’s resume.
Click here to read more about his quest for a World Cup title.
Argentina's Enzo Fernandez, front., and Croatia's Josip Juranovic fight for possession during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Argentina and Croatia at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The World Cup final will feature the best-of-the-best taking the field vying for their last chance to become global icons of the game.
But who are the best among each position? If you were making an All-Star team out of the guys taking the field on Sunday, who would be your Starting XI?
Check out the Ultimate XI from FOX Sports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a message of peace before the World Cup final between Argentina and France.
(FOX)
Argentina and France meet today in the World Cup final in Qatar.
Kylian Mbappe will be looking for his second championship while Lionel Messi will look to end his national career on top with his first title.
Argentina defeated Croatia, the Netherlands and Australia to get to the final. France defeated Morocco, England and Poland in the knockout stage.Argentina and France have both won two World Cups. Argentina won the tournament in 1978 and 1986. France won the titles in 1998 and 2018. France will be looking to be the first nation to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962.
Click here to read more about what you should know before the match kicks off.
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