'Undisputed GOAT of his generation' - Cricketers react to Lionel Messi's crowning moment after chaotic FIFA World Cup final

Argentina lifted the FIFA World Cup on Sunday, December 18, after winning the game 4-2 in penalty shoot-outs.

By CricTracker Staff verified

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Lionel Messi
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Lionel Messi. (Photo Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

After a month-long intense tussle featuring 32 teams from across the globe Lionel Messi's Argentina clinched the FIFA World Cup at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Sunday, December 18. This is Argentina's third World Cup title. They had previously won it in 1978 and 1986.

Argentina got off the mark as a 'very cool and composed' Lionel Messi made the most of a set piece in the form of a penalty in the 23rd minute and helped his team take the lead. France were under the pump immediately and before they could even plan a counterattack, Argentina struck twice. Ángel Di María led the charge this time around and scored in the 36th minute to make 2-0 in favour of the South American nation.

France had to wait till the 80th minute when their striker Kylian Mbappe first converted a penalty and then scored a jaw-dropping equaliser in the very next minute to bring France back into the contest. After the end of the 90 minutes the scoreline read 2-2 and game got pushed into extra time. Messi was not done with his charisma for the day as he produced yet another moment of brilliance in the 108th minute and scored a goal to give Argentina a 3-2 lead.

But there was yet another twist in the tale left as France got yet another penalty and Mbappe did what he does best scored yet another brilliant goal to make the scoreline 3-3. Emi Martinez, Argentina's goalkeeper, who made a crucial save to deny the Les Blues in the dying minutes of extra time, was the hero of the penalty shootout. His heroics meant that Argentina lifted their third World Cup title, following the heartbreak of the 2014 WC.

Spare a thought for the 23 year old Kylian Mbappe who brought his side back from the dead in the epic finale with his sizzling hat-trick. Already a World Cup winner, the Frenchman is destined for greatness and by the time he hangs up his boot, he might surpass his opponent on the night and PSG teammate Lionel Messi.

The final garnered plenty of eyeballs and numerous renowned cricketers from around the world reacted to Argentina's win. They took to their respective social media accounts and let their emotions out as Messi's Argentina won the prestigious tournament after 1986.

Here's how cricketers reacted:

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