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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jonathan Gorrie

In Pictures: Emotional Lionel Messi lifts World Cup after dramatic Argentina win over France

Lionel Messi led the celebrations after Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar (Picture: Getty Images)

Lionel Messi reached the pinnacle of his career in what could well be his last game for Argentina by winning the World Cup.

The 35-year-old scored twice to take his record of World Cup goals to 13, while also setting a new record of scoring in every knockout game.

Over eight years since losing to Germany in the 2014 final, Messi added the one title to have eluded him so far to his trophy cabinet despite a stirring French comeback led by Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe.

A quick-fire brace saw the world champions take the game to extra-time, where Mbappe again cancelled Messi and became the first man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final since Sir Geoff Hurst in 1966.

France, however, could not defend their crown and missed two penalties in the shootout as Argentina won their first World Cup since 1986 inside the Lusail Stadium.

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