Lionel Messi scored twice in the final as Argentina won the World Cup on penalties after a 3-3 draw with France; the captain lifted the trophy with his team-mates while wearing a bisht - a traditional Arab cloak - presented to him by Gianni Infantino and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The forward - who plays for Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain and is an ambassador for Saudi Arabia - was then led towards his team-mates by the pair before lifting the trophy while wearing the bisht, which is a status garment worn on special occasions by Arab men and is often associated with royalty.
It took a decade and a half, but he did it. It took years of disappointment, a brief retirement from the Argentina national team, five World Cup appearances, a ton of frustration, the survival of two wild and furious France comebacks and a nerve-shredding penalty shootout Sunday.
But history will only remember that on a December night in Qatar, the world’s most popular player finally won soccer’s most important trophy, as his country beat France in one of the most thrilling finals in World Cup history.
On penalties after extra time finished at 3-3, Messi converted Argentina’s first shot, and goalkeeper Emi Martinez was once again the hero, saving Kingsley Coman’s kick before Aurelien Tchouameni missed and then, finally, Gonzalo Montiel sealed it for the South Americans, 4-2.
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