LUSAIL, Qatar — Lionel Messi’s once-in-a-generation career is concluded. The Argentina superstar is ultimately a World Cup champion.
Messi scored two goals and then another in a shootout as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties Sunday to claim a third World Cup title despite Kylian Mbappé scoring the first hat trick in a final in 56 years.
Now there’s no debate. Messi is in the pantheon of soccer’s greatest-ever players, alongside Pelé — a record three-time World Cup champion from Brazil — and Diego Maradona, a late Argentina great with whom Messi was so often compared.
Messi has achieved what Maradona did in 1986, dominate a World Cup for Argentina.
Messi put Argentina ahead of the penalty spot and played a part in Angel Di Maria’s goal, making it 2-0 after 36 minutes.
Mbappé scored two goals in 97 seconds to take the game to extra time, and then Messi tapped in his second goal in the 109th minute. But there was still time for another penalty from Mbappé to take the thrilling game to a shootout. Gonzalo Montiel scored the clinching penalty kick after Kingsley Coman had an attempt saved by Emi Martinez and Aurelien Tchouameni missed for France.
