Fifa world cup final score

LUSAIL, Qatar— When Sunday’s World Cup final finally ended, there was a president on one side of the field and a king on the other. The president was France’s It took six goals, 120 minutes and a four-round penalty-kick shootout to separate one from the other. But when it was finally over, Messi was world champion, assuming the crown Mbappe had worn the last four years. Lionel Messi found redemption, leading Argentina to its first World Cup victory in 36 years during a Qatar tournament that often stepped into controversy. There was no final whistle to mark the end of the game, nor was one needed. Instead, it ended with the sound of 88,966 fans screaming — most of them for Argentina — when Gonzalo Montiel’s penalty try hit the back of the net. At midfield Messi dropped to his knees and was immediately engulfed by teammates, most smiling, some crying and others, like Messi, doing both. After several long, suffocating minutes in the middle of the scrum, he broke free and headed for the sideline, arms held aloft as he waved to his family. In Buenos Aires, “I know it’s just a football game, but it’s a World Cup final,” Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni said. “For us in Argentina, it’s something more.” (Martin Meissner / Associated Press) During the postgame awards ceremony, when he was called up to receive the Golden Ball as the tournament’s outstanding player, Messi paused as he headed off stage to place a gentle kiss atop the 14-inch solid gold World Cup trophy, the final recogn...

France's own superstar scored a hat-trick - the first in a Fifa World Cup final since 1966 - but still ended up on the losing side at Lusail Stadium. Messi looked to be securing the one major honour missing from his glittering collection in comfort as Argentina cruised into a two-goal lead. This all changed when an explosive intervention from Mbappe, who scored two goals inside two minutes late on, turned this frantic, magnificent match for the ages on its head. Messi had given Argentina the lead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute following Ousmane Dembele's foul on Angel di Maria. It made him the first player in World Cup history to score in the group stage, last 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final of a single tournament. He then contributed a delicate touch within a magnificent counter-attack that ended with Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister setting up Di Maria for the second 13 minutes later. • 'Now hard to argue against Messi being football's greatest' • World Football in Qatar podcast: Argentina rejoices as Messi matches Maradona • 'Breathless, staggering and magnificent' - was final one of best ever? • Messi's World Cup trophy lift provides iconic image Argentina were untroubled until the closing stages, only for Mbappe to give France a lifeline from the penalty spot with nine minutes left - then restore equality with a magnificent volley moments later. Messi bundled Argentina back in front in extra time, but Mbappe completed his treble from the spot two minut...