DOHA: Argentina are champions of the world for a third time after defeating defending champions France in a 4-2 penalty shootout in the World Cup final at the Lusail Stadium in Doha.

Superstar Lionel Messi playing his last world cup was irresistible, overwhelming. He got Argentina up and running with a coolly converted penalty – his sixth goal of the tournament before Angel Di Maria scored the second goal after a great pass from Alexis Mac Allister. Messi’s magic second goal came in the second extra time to take his side to a thumping victory.

Messi has pretty much done it all. Eleven league titles. Four Champions Leagues. The Copa América. Seven Ballons d’Or. He has now scored 794 career goals, 99 of them for Argentina. And now a world cup title and an eventful night to remember forever for the biggest football superstar of our generation.