Lionel Messi and his teammates set off for Argentina with the most coveted prize in football as millions of compatriots waited to welcome them home on Monday and catch a glimpse of the World Cup trophy.
\nIn the capital Buenos Aires and throughout the country, millions took to the streets to celebrate Sunday\u2019s remarkable penalty shoot-out victory over France in the World Cup final in Qatar.
\nMessi finally crowned his record-breaking career with the one trophy that was missing as he produced a performance that will go down in World Cup history, scoring a first-half penalty and netting again in extra time.
\nFrance had fought back from 2-0 down in the last 10 minutes as Kylian Mbappe scored twice to equalise and force extra time in a pulsating match watched by an 89,000 crowd in Lusail Stadium.
\nMessi seemed to have decided the match in extra time with his second goal of the game before his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Mbappe completed only the second World Cup final hat-trick to bring the score to 3-3 and force penalties.Gonzalo Montiel swept home the decisive spot kick to win the shootout 4-2 for Argentina \u2014 but this was Messi\u2019s moment.
\nAnd while the players were able to celebrate with an estimated 40,000 fans inside the stadium on Sunday night, there are 45 million back home eager to welcome their heroes on Monday evening.
\n\u201cOf course, it\u2019s what we\u2019re all waiting for,\u201d teacher Veronica Silva, 44, told AFP from the Plaza de Mayo square in central Buenos Aires where celebrations went on into Sunday night.
\n\u201cThis will continue for a couple of days. It started now and it won\u2019t end tomorrow because they arrive tomorrow: it will go on for longer.\u201d
\n\u201cOf course we can\u2019t wait to see the players, all of them,\u201d added cleaner Rosa Rodriguez, 63.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a good team who did us proud. The biggest celebration will be when they arrive.\u201d
\nMessi had tasted bitter defeat in the 2014 final against Germany but in his fifth and final World Cup, the 35-year-old finally emulated Argentina idol Diego Maradona by leading his nation to World Cup glory for the first time since 1986.
\nTens of thousands of blue and white-shirted Argentina fans rose to salute Messi as he told them \u201cWe\u2019re champions of the world!\u201d on the stadium microphone.
\nLater he told Argentine television: \u201cObviously I wanted to finish my career with this. I can\u2019t ask for any more.
\n\u201cMy career is coming to end because these are my final years. What more could there be after this?\u201d But he said he would continue with the Argentina squad. \u201cI want to keep experiencing a few more matches as world champion,\u201d he added.
\nFIFA will be delighted with a pulsating final that capped one of the most controversial World Cups in history, with the Qatari organisers having to face persistent questions about the country\u2019s treatment of migrant workers and its laws on homosexuality.
\nNeutrals will be happy that Messi has finally won a World Cup. However, with his hat-trick \u2014 and the Golden Boot for top scorer at the tournament with eight goals \u2014 Mbappe surely showed he is ready to inherit the mantle of the world\u2019s best player.
\nArgentina, now three-time world champions, dominated the first half of the final as Messi scored a 23rd minute penalty after Ousmane Dembele tripped Angel Di Maria.
\nThe mercurial Messi was then part of a superb move that led to Di Maria sweeping home Argentina\u2019s second goal after 36 minutes.
\nThe defending champions finally got back into the game in the second half as Randal Kolo Muani was dragged down by Nicolas Otamendi in the penalty area and Mbappe converted from the spot with only 10 minutes left.
\nA minute later, Mbappe scored a superb volley to bring France level.
\nIn extra time, Messi knocked in the rebound when Hugo Lloris parried Martinez\u2019s saved shot in the 108th minute to give Argentina the lead once again.
\nBut when Mbappe\u2019s shot hit Montiel\u2019s outstretched arm, the referee pointed to the penalty spot and the French forward stroked it home to become the first player to score a World Cup hat-trick since England\u2019s Geoff Hurst in 1966.
\nHis heroics were not enough despite also knocking in France\u2019s first shoot-out spot-kick, as Montiel gave Argentina a 4-2 victory after Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved Kingsley Coman\u2019s attempt.
\n\u201cAll that I have dreamed of has been achieved. I have no words for it,\u201d said Martinez, adding that victory was \u201cdestiny.\u201d
\nFrance coach Didier Deschamps rued the failure to become the first team in 60 years to retain the trophy.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t want to take any merit away from Argentina but there were lots and lots of emotions and it was cruel at the end because we were so close,\u201d he said.
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