The Albiceleste captain opened the scoring, from a penalty, and appeared in the 108th minute of extra time to convert the 3-2 that seemed definitive -it ended 3-3-, but in the penalty shootout the figure of Emiliano Martínez emerged again. 

Lionel Messi, the best player in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez led the Argentine national team to glory today in the long-suffering victory against France in the penalty shootout for the third World title. 

The captain opened the scoring, from a penalty, and appeared in the 108th minute of extra time to convert the 3-2 that seemed definitive -it ended 3-3-, but in the penalty shootout the figure of "Dibu" Martínez emerged again. 

Messi closed his fifth World Cup with seven goals, being decisive for the team in all games and crowned it with the long-awaited World Cup. 

Football did justice. Argentina did justice for its own booties. Lionel Messi has the photo that he deserved throughout his brilliant career: with the white and blue jersey and the World Cup in his hands. 

The National Team won 4-2 on penalties against France (after drawing 3-3 in 120 minutes) at the Lusail stadium and was crowned champion of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. two goals; the rest from Di María), the wall broke.

With the stands covered by the light blue and white colors, with all the corners of the country flagged and overwhelmed by emotion, those led by Lionel Scaloni played the definition with full concentration and seriousness, to the point that the Gauls did not kick on goal in the entire first stage.

 Just a symptom of the exhibition that Argentina gave away. With suffocating pressure, uncomfortable even for the spectators who feared seeing Julián Álvarez on top of him, breaking the TV screen in one of his bullfights. 

It is difficult to see a greater conceptual difference between two teams in a world final like the one seen in the first half between Argentina and France. Thanks to Messi, from a penalty, after a violation by Dembelé against Di María, and to Fideo himself, after a collective play of excellence, the National Team took the lead. So much so that Deschamps made two changes before the first half. In the second part, after the enormous wear and tear of the first half, it was time to resist. 

But without the need for the 10 players to hold on to the crossbar surrounding Dibu Martínez. Scaloni defined the entry of Acuña by Fideo superstar to block roads. De Paul with his management of the times, doing what had to be done in each action, plus the management of Mac Allister and Fernández, plus Messi's pearls, they even knew how to get some "ole" from the stands.

But the suspense came with Otamendi's penalty on Kolo Muani. Dibu was inches away from stopping Mbappé. And, with the Netherlands effect, almost immediately came the 2-2, also from Kiki, with a volley. Minute 81. Same as the 2-2 against Germany in Mexico 86. Then, Maradona took the ball and harangued: "Now we won it." The same was proposed by the Albiceleste.

With patience and touch. With personality. With the tactical success of DT to place Di María, a nightmare, on Koundé, on the left. With De Paul pushing. With Enzo Fernández managing the times. With Messi enjoying himself, already stripped of the weight of the tensions that evaporated after winning the 2021 Copa América at the Maracana.

And in the second half of the extra time the prize seemed to have arrived. It was at 108 minutes, after Lautaro Martínez's furious shot that Lloris contained, and the rebound that La Pulga took, to break the score again. The script asked for something like that, the epic scene, with the boy from the movie, to crown such a work. However, once again an obstacle stood in the way. Another penalty that Mbappé translated into his hattrick and 3-3. And in penalties came glory. Again with Dibu as the hero, saving Coman's penalty and making Tchouameni nervous to deflect his. Gonzalo Montiel was the hero who put the decisive 4-2.

Because it was not an easy path for the Argentine team, as was proven in the final. Everything seemed to be going smoothly after the 5-0 victory against the United Arab Emirates in the run-up to the start of the tournament, which served to extend the unbeaten record of La Scaleneta to 36 games. But, after that comfortable victory achieved on November 16, Lionel Scaloni encountered the first turbulence. "The players are old enough to say if they are fit to continue or not", he fired after the final whistle and anticipated what would happen the next day.

Nicolás González and Joaquín Correa, two regulars in this cycle, were discharged and in their place he urgently summoned Ángel Correa and Thiago Almada, who were in Argentina and did not expect the call. Now yes, with those changes, the list of 26 footballers was defined to face the most important challenge of all.

Source: FIFA.