As the dust settles, reality grows. Lionel Messi is a World Cup champion. Argentina defeated France in arguably the greatest-ever World Cup final at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on Sunday, clinching the awe-inspiring trophy for the third time. And there is plenty of reaction to tuck into as the return of club football looms over the horizon.
Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 23 minutes before Angel di Maria finished off a scintillating counter-attack to add a second in the first half. Argentina were in cruise control, with France failing to register a shot until midway through the second period.
But Lionel Scaloni's side were stunned late on, with Kylian Mbappe netting a penalty of his own and then a stunning volley in the space of a minute to level the score out of nowhere. Messi thought he had won it in the second half of extra-time before Mbappe completed his hat-trick with another spot-kick with two minutes to spare, sending it to a shoot-out.
More Emi Martinez heroics saw him save Kingsley Coman's penalty before successfully winning a mind game with Aurelien Tchouameni, who fired wide. Gonzalo Montiel netted the winner in Argentina's flawless shoot-out win, sparking wild celebrations in Qatar and across the world.
Express Sport provides regular updates throughout the day, with plenty of reaction to come.
LIVE updates below...
World Cup LIVE: Lionel Messi lifted his first World Cup as Argentina beat France. (Image: GETTY)
France star Theo Hernandez wrongly shoved his team-mate Randal Kolo Muani back onto the pitch on Sunday after the rest of the players had run off it to celebrate Kylian Mbappe’s equaliser against Argentina in the 81st minute of the World Cup final. Hernandez thought Kolo Muani had to stay on the pitch to prevent Argentina from restarting the game quickly and retaking the lead.
France were in imperious form in Qatar and reached the World Cup final after defeating Poland, England and Morocco in their previous knockout games. But they were second best for much of the showpiece event and fell two goals behind in the first half as Lionel Messi converted from the penalty spot before Angel di Maria bagged a second following a fine team move.
Les Bleus refused to give up, however and found a way back into the game with 10 minutes remaining as Mbappe lashed in a penalty. And the talented Paris Saint-Germain forward drew his team level seconds later as he acrobatically volleyed a thumping effort beyond Emi Martinez and into the corner of the net.
Mbappe wheeled off to celebrate his strike and was soon mobbed by his team-mates at the side of the pitch. Kolo Muani was the last player to attempt to join in with the celebrations. But instead of being met with open arms by the rest of the France players, the 24-year-old striker was shoved back onto the pitch as he crossed the touchline.
Karim Benzema could reverse his decision to retire from international football if Didier Deschamps in replaced.
The Real Madrid striker, who missed the World Cup through injury and rejected the chance to hook up with the squad before the final, announced he would not play for France again following the defeat to Argentina.
However, Foot Mercato claim his retirement was primarily due to a break down in relationship with Deschamps and the 35-year-old would consider backtracking if Zinedine Zidane was hired as his successor.
Sergio Aguero has fired back after receiving criticism on Twitter following footage from a live stream where he appeared to call Eduardo Camavinga a ‘d***face’. The 34-year-old took on a prominent role in Argentina’s World Cup celebrations despite retiring from football in 2021 but has insisted his comment on the French midfielder was simply a joke
Bayern release statement after Coman racially abused
France star Kingsley Coman was racially abused along with Aurelien Tchouameni and Randal Kolo Muani following their World Cup final loss to Argentina.
The Bayern winger and Tchouameni both missed penalties in the shootout while Muani spurned a gilt-edged chance to win the match late in the second half of extra time.
And after the trio were subjected to vile racist abuse, Bayern released a statement to back their play Coman. It read: "FC Bayern strongly condemn the racist comments made towards Kingsley Coman.
"The FC Bayern family is behind you, King. Racism has no place in sport or our society."
Argentina star has 'tattoo of Sonia from Eastenders'
World Cup fans joked Gonzalo Montiel has a tattoo of Sonia Jackson from Eastenders on his arm after he scored the winning penalty for Argentina in the World Cup final.
Argentina had led 2-0 with just 20 minutes to go but a quickfire brace from Kylian Mbappe sent the tie into extra time. Messi then got his second of the match to restore their lead before another Mbappe penalty saw the two sides head into a penalty shootout.
And it was Argentina who held their nerve, winning the shootout as Messi got his hands on his first-ever World Cup. But all eyes were on Montiel and more specifically, the tattoo on his arm, after he took his shirt off to celebrate scoring the decisive penalty. And fans couldn't believe what they saw, taking to social media in their droves to poke fun.
Emiliano Martinez has shed light on why he made a lewd gesture just seconds after collecting the Golden Glove award.
The Argentina shot-stopper played an instrumental role in his country's World Cup triumph, saving a penalty in the shootout against France to help claim a historic win for Lionel Messi and co.
And now, the Aston Villa star has revealed why he made the rude gesture on stage when collecting his individual award.
"I did it because the French booed me. Pride does not work with me," he told Argentine radio station La Red.
Emiliano Martinez revealed he made a rude gesture because France fans were booing him (Image: GETTY)
Stunning drone footage has revealed the sheer extent of Argentina fans who have turned out to celebrate Lionel Messi and co's historic World Cup victory in Buenos Aires.
This drone shot of Buenos Aires is INCREDIBLE \ud83d\udd25
It was certainly a day that Argentina fans will remember forever.
And Express Sport were on hand to capture it all at Vauxhall's Food and Beer Garden, London, where the Albiceleste army took over and created one almighty racket.
Salt Bae could find himself in hot water after images emerged of the celebrity chef posing for photographs whilst handling the World Cup trophy, breaking a long-standing World Cup tradition.
FIFA rules state that only a strict list of personnel are allowed to touch the famous accolade and it appears the steak expert broke tradition during Argentina's celebrations on Sunday.
According to FIFA rules, it states: "The original FIFA World Cup Trophy can only be touched and held by a very select group of people, which includes former winners of the FIFA World Cup and heads of state."
Karim Benzema has announced his retirement from France duty.
On Monday, the Ballon d'Or holder tweeted to confirm his decision to walk away from the national team.
He said: "I made the effort and the mistakes it took to be where I am today and I'm proud of it! I have written my story and ours is ending."
J\u2019ai fait les efforts et les erreurs qu\u2019il fallait pour \u00eatre l\u00e0 o\u00f9 je suis aujourd\u2019hui et j\u2019en suis fier ! J\u2019ai \u00e9crit mon histoire et la n\u00f4tre prend fin. #Nuevepic.twitter.com/7LYEzbpHEs
The Argentina fan who took her top off to reveal her boobs after Sunday's breathtaking World Cup final could face jail time in Qatar.
After Lionel Messi's World Cup triumph was confirmed, TV cameras pointing at the crowd picked up a female supporter who had taken her top off.
Qatar's female citizens aren't allowed to wear revealing clothes. And although the country relaxed rules for the World Cup, they requested that visitors were respectful.
The Daily Mail report that the severe breach of the country's clothing rules could result in serious repercussions.
UK MPs have heavily criticised Gary Neville for using his position as a World Cup pundit on ITV to slam the country's government.
Neville has been labelled 'grotesque' for comparing the political issues in Qatar with current problems in the UK.
And Lee Anderson, Conservative MP for Ashfield, said: “It's a classic case of another champagne socialist who's got more money than sense. ITV should sack him.”
Piers Morgan has accused someone of 'deliberately poisoning' France ahead of their World Cup final defeat to Argentina.
Les Bleus started horrendously, falling 2-0 behind at half-time without registering a single shot on target.
And at the end of the first half, in which Lionel Messi and Angel di Maria netted the goals, Morgan claimed he believed France were poisoned rather than suffering from a reported widespread virus.
He tweeted: "It wasn’t a virus, the French team clearly got deliberately poisoned."
And yes, it wasn't a dream. THAT final really did happen.
Stay tuned for all the aftermath as Lionel Messi and Argentina celebrate their World Cup win.
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