Live updates: France vs Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final

Argentina wins the 2022 World Cup in an instant-classic

It took 90 minutes of regulation, 30 minutes of extra time and a penalty kick shootout to decide it — but Argentina is the 2022 World Cup champion.

It was the two superstars who stepped up first for their sides in the shootout. France kicked first and Kylian Mbappé, who had a hat trick in the game, blasted it by Argentina's Emiliano Martínez.

Next up was the legend. Lionel Messi approached the spot and calmly rolled one in to tie it up.

That tit for tat exchange was fitting for a match where each side's talisman turned in an inspired performance.

But after that, France missed their next two attempts to give Argentina a big advantage. And after Gonzalo Montiel made it four in a row for Argentina, it was over.

Going into the shootout, the two sides were tied at 3-3 after some truly epic moments of open play.

Messi’s two goals helped La Albiceleste capture their third World Cup and first since Diego Maradona led the team to glory in 1986 in Mexico.

The defending champion France was seeking to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles in 60 years (Brazil 1958, 1962). 

Despite the loss, France’s Kylian Mbappé’s hat trick secured him the Golden Boot, awarded to the tournament’s leading goal scorer.

Shootout for World Cup glory: France vs Argentina

After 90 minutes of regulation and two 15-minute periods of extra time, France and Argentina are still deadlocked in this instant-classic World Cup final.

How it works: Each team will get the chance to take five penalty kicks, and whichever side scores the most wins.

⚽️ = success

❌ = no goal

France

Kick 1: ⚽️

Kick 2: ❌

Kick 3: ❌

Kick 4: ⚽️

Kick 5:

---

Argentina

Kick 1: ⚽️

Kick 2: ⚽️

Kick 3: ⚽️

Kick 4: ⚽️

Kick 5:

Unbelievable! We're heading to penalties to decide the 2022 World Cup

It looked like Lionel Messi had done it.

After a stunning second-half French comeback — thanks to two goals in about 90 seconds by young superstar Kylian Mbappé — France and Argentina went to extra time to decide the 2022 World Cup champion.

Early in the second period of extra time, Messi, who had already scored on a penalty kick in the first half of the game, took the ball on a rebound from a Hugo Lloris save and flicked it toward the goal. France's defense managed to clear Messi's offering off the line, but it had crossed over and Argentina was ultimately awarded the goal.

But it wouldn't be enough. In the 116th minute of this epic final, France was awarded a penalty. Already having scored twice, Kylian Mbappé stepped up looking to tie the match yet again. And he did just that. It's a hat trick for the 23-year-old.

It'll now be penalty kicks to decide the champion at the 2022 World Cup. This is absolutely unreal.

Late penalty for France — and Mbappé does it!

In the 116th minute of this epic final, France was awarded a penalty.

Kylian Mbappé stepped up looking to tie the match yet again. And he scored!

It's a hat trick for the 23-year-old.

What a classic!

Argentina 3-3 France

GOAL! Messi breaks through in extra time

Messi the magician!

The legend got his second goal of the match and gave Argentina the lead in the second period of extra time.

The stadium has just erupted in euphoria, and there was an even bigger cheer when Messi was confirmed as the scorer. He’s now leading the race for the Golden Boot again, because he has the edge in assists, the award's tiebreaker.

Argentina 3-2 France

CNN's Don Riddell contributed to this report from inside Lusail Stadium.

##Match Coverage

Argentina and France still locked at 2-2 after first period of extra time

Argentina and France are still tied 2-2 after the first 15-minute period of extra time at the 2022 World Cup final.

After a frantic first period, La Albiceleste had two opportunities to regain its lead, but the first ricocheted off France's defense and the second slid wide of the goal.

The two sides will go another 15 minutes to see if either team can find a match-winning goal.

If neither side is leading after that, it'll be a penalty kick shootout to decide the champ.

France's shock equalizer took some wind out of the sails of Argentina's boisterous fans

From CNN's Don Riddell in Doha

The Argentina fan in front of me at Lusail Stadium is cutting a pretty dejected figure right now.

For most of the match, he’s been on his feet, pumping his fists, singing the songs.

Now he tells me he’s “afraid” about what comes next. He’s slumped back into his chair.

“We should have killed the game off when we had the chance," he told me. "I am not in a good mood.”

It's all tied in extra time of an instant-classic World Cup final.

Extra time begins at the World Cup final

We're now in extra time after a wild 90 minutes in Qatar.

Argentina and France are deadlocked at 2 goals apiece going into extra time.

Remember: The two sides will now play two 15-minute periods of extra time. If no team is leading after that, it'll be a penalty kick shootout to decide the champ.

With back-to-back goals, Mbappé is suddenly ahead of Messi in the Golden Boot race

The race for the Golden Boot — the award for the player who scores the most goals in the tournament — hung in the balance heading into Sunday's clash between Argentina and France.

With his first-half goal on a penalty kick, Argentina's Lionel Messi pulled one ahead of France's Kylian Mbappé.

But with two goals in the span of about 90 seconds in the second half, Mbappé leapfrogged the legend in the goal count. He now leads Messi by one heading to extra time in the final.

Here's where things stand:

7 goals

• Kylian Mbappé (France) (2 assists)

6 goals

• Lionel Messi (Argentina) (3 assists)

Tiebreaker explained: According to FIFA's criteria, if two players have scored an equal number of goals at the end of the World Cup, the one with the most assists gets the Golden Boot award.

If two or more players are equal on both goals and assists, then the person who played the fewest minutes in the tournament (thus, scoring their goals in a shorter period of time) will win the award.