Lionel Messi can finally be called a world champion.

Messi scored twice in one of the most epic soccer games anyone has ever watched as Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final over France on penalties.

The climactic match in Qatar finished 3-3 after extra time, with La Albiceleste claiming the shootout by a 4-2 margin.

Argentina held a comfortable 2-0 lead until the 80th minute courtesy of a Messi penalty and a sublime team goal finished by Ángel Di María in the first half. However, Kylian Mbappé converted from the spot and finished a sumptuous volley in a span of two minutes to send the game to extra time.

Messi was once again on hand to put Argentina in front in the 108th minute, but Mbappé kept his cool from the penalty spot once more to send the final to a shootout.

Messi knocked home the first penalty, then Argentina keeper Emiliano Martínez made a save in the second round from Kingsley Coman's effort. France's Aurélien Tchouaméni sent his spot-kick wide in the third round, leaving Gonzalo Montiel to seal the title in the fourth.

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Argentina appeared to have full control of the contest thanks to a pair of first-half goals from Messi and Di María.

Messi became the first man to score in all four knockout round games of a single World Cup with his penalty in the 23rd minute after Di María was brought down by Ousmane Dembélé.

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Di María padded the lead after a scintillating counterattack that started in Argentina's own half.

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Di María loves scoring in a big game for Argentina 🔥🇦🇷<br><br>⚽️ 2008: Gold Medal Match<br>⚽️ 2021: Copa América Final<br>⚽️ 2022: Finalissima<br>⚽️ 2022: FIFA World Cup Final <a href="">

France did not attempt a single shot until the 71st minute, and La Albiceleste appeared to be cruising. However, the game flipped on its head when they conceded a penalty in the 80th minute.

Mbappé coolly converted, and the final burst into life once more at the Lusail Stadium.

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One minute later, Mbappé levelled the contest at two goals apiece with a stunning volley, eventually sending the final to another 30 minutes of game time.

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Messi and Argentina thought they had the World Cup locked up again in the 108th minute, when the 35-year-old finished off a chaotic sequence in front of Hugo Lloris in the French net.

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But Mbappé struck again from the penalty spot after a handball from Gonzalo Montiel in the box 10 minutes after Messi's second goal.

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Mbappé's hat trick pushed him ahead of Messi into first place in the Golden Boot race with seven goals.

That was a small consolation for the French superstar after losing in his second World Cup final.

Argentina's stars were faultless with their spot-kicks, while France was left to rue Coman's saved effort and Tchouaméni's miss, handing a third world title to Argentina and preventing Les Bleus from defending their 2018 tournament victory in Russia.

While a penalty shootout is always a cruel way to lose, Argentina was good value for the win on the balance of play. France finished with just five shots on target to La Albiceleste's 10 and failed to do anything in the final third in the first 70 minutes. Emiliano Martínez made just two saves for Argentina, albeit one was crucial in the 123rd minute when left one-on-one with Randal Kolo Muani.

Messi was, perhaps inevitably, Man of the Match for his pair of goal contributions.

He has now won a major tournament title in each of the last two years with Argentina, securing his first Copa America in 2021 and now adding a World Cup title to his illustrious resume.