It was a night like none other, at least in the recent history of the FIFA World Cup, as two glittering stars of the game, at opposite ends of their respective careers, produced wizardry on the football pitch to enthrall millions of fans, On the end, the night belonged to the experienced Lionel Messi, some would say deservingly, as he fulfilled a long-cherished personal dream and that of an entire nation, as Argentina beat France on penalties to win their third World Cup title, 36 years after Diego Maradona had guided them to their second in Mexico. The other genius on the pitch, the 23-year-old French racing car, Kylian Mbappe, gave the world yet another reminder of his enormous talent, as he became only the second player ever to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
The goal failed to shake the defending champions out of their slumber as Argentina kept pressing and in the 36th minute, a brilliant move, started by Messi, released Alexis Mac Allister on the right, and his measured pass into the French box found Angel Di Maria, who drilled in a shot from close range to make it 2-0.
Mbappe slotted home from the spot to make it 2-1.
Read more: https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2022/lionel-messis-argentina-edge-france-on-penalties-to-third-world-cup-title-3618951
