Argentina fans on Sunday dominated the packed crowd at Lusail Stadium, as well as plenty of neutral fans throwing their weight behind them. Not albiceleste Hoping to see soccer superstar Lionel Messi finally lift the World Cup.
They were not disappointed.
Sunday’s match in Qatar ended in glory for Messi, a fitting culmination of his extraordinary career.
Messi opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the first half, making history the first player to score at every stage of the tournament.
He scored again in the second half of extra time, boosting an Argentine side that was still struggling with France’s quick comeback.
And when all the pressure was on the 35-year-old during the penalty shootout, the weary veteran calmly deposited the ball into the back of the net.
Not long after, the Argentina superstar celebrated with his teammates, holding aloft the World Cup that had eluded him throughout his career.
An impressive performance in the finals moved Messi to the position of favorite for the Ballon d’Or, which is awarded to the best player in the tournament.
It’s hard to imagine a better way to end the career of a man many consider the greatest ever at the World Cup.
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