Joseph Isokpehi Reporting.
At last Lionel Messi had the last dance as he led the Aibecelete to win their third world cup trophy at the expense of former champions France.
Time, they say heals wounds, he actually waited and the time came to his feet and he won the trophy to cap a successful career and he can now have a drink after a superlative outing with Argentina as they lift the biggest soccer trophy on Sunday inside the magnificent Lusail iconic stadium Lusail, in Qatar.
Though it wasn’t an easy one as the cup holders put up their best on the last day coming from a 0-2 down to take the game to extra time before losing on Kicks from the Penalty mark after 3-3 normal and extra times.
Truth Live News’ crew of commentators who ran live commentaries in all the matches from the group stage to the final game, reported that Argentina took the lead in the 23rd minute as Captain Messi converted from the spot after Di Maria was tripped by  Dembele in the box. The south Americans who imposed themselves on Les Bleus continued to attack and were rewarded as they increased the tally in the 36th minute, following a clinical finish by Di Maria who received a pass from Mac Allister as the first half ended 2-0.
On resumption of the second stanza, Argentina remained in control until 10 minutes from time, when Otamendi fouled Kolo Muani in the box and Kylian Mbappe wasted no time to score from the spot in the 80th minute, the French side noticed that the Argentines’ defense was sloppy and Mbape got the second in the 81 minutes with a well-taken strike following Coman and Rabiot combination with Marcus Thuram to take the game into extra time.
Argentina became aggressive again and were clearly the better side as they went ahead again in the 118th minute when Messi hit home a rebound after Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro exchanged in the box allowing Hugo Lloris to make a superb stop. Meanwhile, France was back into level term in the closing stages of the extra time after Mbappe’s shot hit Argentina’s Montiel’s hand and a penalty was given to France, again Mbappe stepped forward to score his third goal on the night to put the 23-year-old PSG striker in the history books as the second player in history after Geoff Hurst to score a hat trick in the 1966 world cup final in England.
After the scores stood 3-3 in Extra time, the final match of the most memorable world cup tournament was decided by kicks from the Penalty mark. Messi and Mbappe scored but Coman lost his kick before Dybala gave Argentina the advantage only for Tchouameni to miss again for France before Paredes and Montiel converted their kicks to provide Argentina with the victory in Qatar.
It was a perfect world cup for Lionel Messi who was playing his last world cup game and final, as he was voted the MVP of the tournament just as he finished as the second top scorer in Qatar behind Kylian Mbappe.
Lionel Messi without anything left to win for Argentina has not said anything about quitting international football, though he can change his mind. Having won the FIFA under 20 world cup in 2005, the 2008 Olympics Gold in the football event in Beijing, the Copa America, the champions League, Super Cup, Ballon d’Or several times, and many other domestic titles,  the former Barcelona captain has waited to win the senior world cup all his life and this would be the perfect end to a glittering career.
The question on the lips of everyone now is how would Lionel Messi be received in Paris, France where he is currently playing club football with PSG as he denied the French team a back-to-back triumph at the Mundial, would he be frustrated out of the team? Hated by the fans? How will Mbappe treat him on the field, during the training sessions, and in match situations at PSG,  Only time will tell.
For now, we leave Messi and his victorious Argentine side to dance to victory songs that is raving the airwaves from Doha to Buenos Aires.
Congratulations Lionel Messi, and Congratulations Argentina!!!