Argentina fans go wild after Messi wins the World Cup while French fans are devastated

Cheering Argentinian fans flooded the streets of Buenos Aires after their dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over France in the World Cup final.

While French fans looked despondent as their side staged an incredible comeback but missed out on back-to-back World Cup victories.

The dramatic final ended 3-3 after extra time after two goals from Messi and a hat-trick from Mbappe before going to penalties.

Argentina won the penalty shootout 4-2, leaving crowds of football fans in public squares around the world chanting Messi’s name.

The freezing streets of major cities, including Paris, have been transformed into seas of discarded blue, red and white confetti as chants of Allez les bleus! and the rendition of the national anthem, La Marseillaise, came to a dramatic halt.

Argentina fans around the world passionately celebrated their World Cup final victory (supporters in Madrid)

French fans react as their side lose to Argentina on penalties in the World Cup final

Argentina fans around the world passionately celebrated their World Cup final victory (supporters in Madrid)

Fans of Argentina celebrate after watching Argentina defeat France at Lusail Boulevard, Lusail, Qatar,

Thousands of Argentinian fans celebrate their team’s World Cup victory over France in Buenos Aires

The streets of Buenos Aires have been filled with enthusiastic fans for hours (pictured)

Disappointed French fans watching their team miss two consecutive wins in Douai, France

Kylian Mbappe and France players are dejected after the team’s defeat

Argentina’s fans celebrate Argentina’s national team’s victory over France for the World Cup Finals in Qatar, on Copacabana Beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Argentina fans celebrate at a bar in Barcelona, ​​Spain during the World Cup final

Lionel Messi wowed the Lusail Stadium when he finally realized his dream of winning the world title and led Argentina to glory with a nerve-wracking victory in Qatar.

Argentine fans around the world erupted in wild cheers as their side prevailed and scored every penalty, while France wasted two of their efforts amidst Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s mind games.

Earlier, Messi had scored a desperate goal in extra time to push his side back in front of holders France – only for Kylian Mbappe to seal a hat-trick and set up a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out.

The South American fans, who far outnumbered their French counterparts in Qatar, couldn’t contain their glee when the final penalty was scored, while Argentina’s players immediately burst into tears as they pressed on their captain Messi.

Argentine soccer fans celebrate their team’s World Cup victory over France in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Sunday, December 18, 2022

Fans react on a screen during the final soccer match of Qatar 2022 World Cup between Argentina and France in Paris December 18, 2022.

France fans react on the Champs-Elysees during the final match between France and Argentina

A sad French fan watches the game between Argentina and France in Paris

In Qatar, only around 6,000 French fans watched the game, but millions were at home in bars and cafes.

This included those watching on television around Argentina, the stop on Line 1 of the Paris Metro’s underground system, which had been renamed France for the day.

Those in Doha included President Emmanuel Macron, who would smack the air every time France scored but then look dejected on the pitch.

“We’re all devastated – it was the best World Cup final ever but our penalties weren’t good enough,” said Eléa Avel, who has supported her national team since the early 1980s.

“We lost our nerve – and maybe we weren’t as fit as we should have been,” said the 53-year-old as she hung a dark blue rooster head and a French flag over her head near the Louvre Museum in central Paris shoulders carried .

There had been reports of a virus in the French camp in Qatar, with players complaining of flu-like symptoms and suffering from a lack of energy.

Ms Avel said: “It’s not an excuse but the health of the players was clearly an issue. I remember our first World Cup win in 1998, then again in Russia in 2018 and now we’re not world champions anymore. It’s a terrible feeling.’

A fan reacts at the end of the final soccer match of the 2022 World Cup Finals in Qatar

A French fan buries his head in a French flag after losing to Argentina

A shirtless fan celebrates Argentina’s victory after watching his national team defeat France

Argentina fans celebrate on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil