Argentina wins the thrilling World Cup championship on penalties.

It was a fantastic night of varying fortunes that ended in one of the greatest finals in tournament history.

On Sunday, Argentina won their third World Cup in spectacular way, defeating France 4-2 on penalties following a 3-3 draw that featured a hat-trick for Kylian Mbappe as the hosts rallied from a 2-0 deficit after 80 minutes. Lionel Messi scored twice in the draw.

It was a tremendous night of drama and shifting fortunes that culminated in one of the greatest finals in tournament history.

Messi’s penalty and Angel Di Maria’s outstanding goal in the first half gave Argentina what appeared to be a lopsided victory, but Mbappe’s conversion of a penalty in the 80th minute and volley goal a minute later forced extra time. Mbappe became the second player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final after Geoff Hurst for England in 1966 after Messi gave Argentina the lead once more.

As a result, the game went to a penalty shootout where Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez saved Kingsley Coman’s attempt and Aurelien Tchouameni missed, giving Gonzalo Montiel the opportunity to win, which he gladly did.

It meant that after his record 26th World Cup match, at the fifth and final time of asking, the 35-year-old Messi finally claimed the trophy that he and his nation demanded, lifting him up alongside Diego Maradona after the country’s first football God carried them to their emotional second triumph in 1986 following their first in 1978.