Gonzalo Montiel took off his shirt to cover his eyes. He burst into tears the moment his penalty hit the bottom left of the goal, winning the World Cup for Argentina lower than quarter-hour after his handball threatened to throw all of it away.
Most of his teammates were crying too. Like a soccer-crazy country an ocean away.
Argentina is on top of the world again, champions for the first time since 1986, beating title holders France 4-2 on penalties after the teams played to a 3-3 draw for 120 minutes, in a coronation that became an all-time classic . And similar to Diego Maradona’s 1986 win in Mexico, this tournament will go down in history for the player of all time who claims his case is the best ever.
“I knew,” said Lionel Messi, “that God would give it to me.”
Regardless of your theory of destiny, it was a game worthy of heaven – one which appeared to tilt, turn and gasp with everyone watching because it escalated into utter madness at the ending.
![Lionel Messi](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/world-cup-argentina-messi-002.jpg?w=1024)
![Lionel Messi from Argentina](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/world-cup-argentina-messi-010.jpg?w=1024)
“These players are playing for his or her country, for the fans of Argentina,” said coach Lionel Scaloni. “That is what I used to be saying about them. There is no such thing as a competition in the team, everyone plays for themselves, everyone pushes in the right direction. They’ve a lot pride to play for his or her country – the players have broken their backs.”
For nearly 80 minutes, Argentina was firmly on top of things of the match, and La Albiceleste appeared to hold the trophy with one hand as France coach Didier Deschamps on the 71st to his team, which was losing 2-0 with goals from Messi and Angel Di María.
Coman quickly helped open the game, and in the 79th minute, Randal Kolo Muani forced Nicolás Otamendi to make an enormous mistake by beating Muani in the penalty area and dictating a penalty which hit Kylian Mbappé, halving the lead.
![Lionel Messi celebrates Argentina's victory over France at the World Cup, December 18, 2022.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/world-cup-221218-23.jpg?w=1024)
![Soccer fans from Argentina](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/world-cup-argentina-messi-005.jpg?w=1024)
![Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez celebrates saving a penalty during a penalty kick in the World Cup final, December 18, 2022.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/world-cup-221218-19.jpg?w=1024)
![Argentina's Lionel Messi (right) and Angel Di Maria celebrate a goal during the World Cup final match between Argentina and France, December 18, 2022.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/world-cup-221218-13.jpg?w=1024)
It was Mbappé’s first contribution to a match wherein he had been silenced up to now, and he quickly recalled why he is taken into account Messi’s heir to the throne. Only a minute later, Coman played in Mbappé, who volleyed into the net after Marcus Thuram sent him back. Argentina was suddenly dazed and hot on their heels, and Messi’s moment was at risk of evaporating.
Nevertheless, it was Messi who scored in beyond regular time, which appeared to put the trophy back in Argentina’s hands. The ball deflected off Hugo Lloris, who saved Lautaro Martínez’s opening shot, and Messi, with his right foot, struck it just over the line to provide it a 3-2 lead.
Mbappé and France, nonetheless, had another sigh. Montiel’s handball in the box gave the 23-year-old superstar one other penalty with two minutes left in beyond regular time. There was little doubt he would complete a hat-trick, and very quickly in any respect he did – sealing the Golden Boot for the most goals in the tournament. France nearly won after two minutes of stoppage time, forcing Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to make a desperate save for Muani, but Martínez’s foot found the ball and sent the match to penalties.
At this point, France finally gave in. Martínez helped Kingsley Coman’s attempt and Aurélien Tchouaméni missed from the left wing. Argentina played a flawless four-on-four and it was right that Montiel ensured the winner.
“There’s loads of emotion, however it’s cruel in the end,” Deschamps said. “We’re near something we could have touched, but we do not.”
![Lionel Messi (right) scores in extra time to give Argentina a 3-2 lead over France in the World Cup final on December 18, 2022.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/messi-goal.jpg?w=1024)
Nevertheless, it’s Messi who made history with his first World Cup title. in what he had previously said could be his last match with the national team – a plan he reverted to after the final.
In his 16 years with the Argentina national team, Messi failed time and time again. He was forced to live in Maradona’s shadow, even when Maradona himself only led Messi to the quarter-finals in South Africa 2010 as Argentina’s coach. Messi suffered what gave the impression to be personal injuries at the Maracanã in the 2014 final and in the 2016 Copa America final against Chile, after which he briefly retired from the national team.
Nevertheless, it makes up for all that and more.
![Argentine footballers celebrate winning the World Cup final match between Argentina and France on December 18, 2022.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/world-cup-221218-18.jpg?w=1024)
![Lionel Messi celebrates his first world title with Argentina after beating France on December 18, 2022.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/world-cup-221218-24.jpg?w=1024)
Messi is now the first player to attain at any stage of the World Cup and holds the record for the most minutes played in the competition. He finally lifted the trophy on Sunday, achieving immortality.
He took Argentina with him on this trip.