捧杯后，梅西发声

Argentina won possibly the greatest World Cup final ever after a penalty shootout that followed a 3-3 draw after extra time here on Sunday.

Messi opened the scoring with a 23rd-minute penalty after Ousmane Dembele clipped Angel Di Maria's heel.

Di Maria doubled their lead in the 36th minute, finishing off an excellent team goal from a perfect counter-attack.

Mbappe gave France a lifeline with an 80th-minute penalty after Nicolas Otamendi bundled over Kolo Muani, and a minute later he equalized with a thumping volley from Coman's clipped pass.

Mbappe went close to a third before 90 minutes were up, but his shot was deflected over and the match went into extra time.

Messi put Argentina back in front in the 108th minute, firing home from close range after Hugo Lloris had done well to block a shot from Argentina substitute Lautaro Martinez, but Mbappe equalized again from the penalty spot after his shot was blocked by Gonzalo Montiel's arm.

Emiliano then saved from Kolo Muani with virtually the last kick of the game to take the final to penalties.

After Argentina’s semifinal win over Croatia, the 35-year-old acknowledged that Sunday’s final against France would likely be his last match on the biggest sporting stage in the world.

“I am not retiring from the national team,” Messi reportedly said in an interview, “I want to continue playing as a champion.”

“我还不会从国家队退役，我想继续以冠军身份踢比赛。”

Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni said: "We need to save him for the next World Cup – 2026. If he wants to keep playing, he will be with us. He is more than entitled to decide what he wants to do with his career now."

​​​