December 19: Argentina edged out France 4-2 on penalties in one of the most memorable World Cup finals on Sunday that saw Argentina take a 2-0 lead with goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria only for France to stage a late fight back.

Defending champions France were 2-0 down until 80 minutes but Kylin Mbppe to scored a late brace in regular time as they kept alive their bid to win back-to-back titles which only Italy has won in the 1930s and Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

Messi looked to be securing the one major honour missing from his glittering collection in comfort as Argentina cruised into a two-goal lead, the BBC reported, adding, “This all changed when an explosive intervention from Mbappe, who scored two goals inside two minutes late on, turned this frantic, magnificent match for the ages on its head.”

According to the BBC, Argentina were untroubled until the closing stages, only for Mbappe to give France a lifeline from the penalty spot with nine minutes left - then restore equality with a magnificent volley moments later.

Messi bundled Argentina back in front in extra time, but Mbappe completed his treble from the spot two minutes from the end of a frantic, chaotic added spell.

Luck favoured Argentina in the penalty shootout as they passed the test 4-2 in one of the sport’s all-time great games. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s heroics cannot be ignored as he saved the decisive spot kick of Kingsley Coman that turned the tide in favour of Argentina in the shootout. Martinez had also starred in Argentina’s penalty shootout win over the Netherlands in the quarterfinal of the 2022 World Cup.

The result also backed the claim made by football great Zlatan Ibrahimovic just a few days ago that ‘stars are aligned for Messi to lift the World Cup'.