Lionel Messi beamed as he cradled the World Cup trophy, rubbing it lovingly and repeatedly kissing it.
This title was sweet, made all the more so by the epic performance it took to win it. First extra time, and then a penalty shootout. But in his final World Cup appearance, Messi won the one title that had eluded him throughout his illustrious career.
When Gonzalo Montiel, whose handball in extra time had given France a last lifeline, buried the game-winning penalty, Messi broke into a grin that wouldn’t fade for the rest of the night.
As his teammates dissolved in tears, Messi could only smile. He saluted Argentina’s fans, who had turned Doha into a suburb of Buenos Aries all month, and was at the front of the Albiceleste dance line. He hugged his young sons, who a month ago were devastated after Argentina’s upset loss to Saudi Arabia, fearing their father’s hopes for a World Cup title had ended almost as soon as the tournament began.
