World Cup

ARGENTINA wildly celebrated their World Cup victory in the dressing room after the match.In footage recorded by Argentine legend Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi and Co could be seen getting the party started immediately after leaving the pitch.

Sergio Aguero shared a video of the wild celebrations
Lionel Messi danced on a table clutching the World Cup
One jubilant member of the Argie party even somersaulted into a bin
Aguero, 34, was forced to retire with health issues last year – but was invited back into the Argentina camp this week and made to still feel part of the victory.
The former Manchester City star even donned a full kit to get into the spirit of things, and his Instagram Live footage documented Argentina’s brilliant celebrations.
His video began with a moment that will warm City fans’ hearts – as he chatted with current Etihad hero Julian Alvarez.
Aguero then started swigging from a bottle, as the squad danced and sang to Latin music.
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After the ex-striker had a chat with Angel Di Maria, he then captured another pal on camera sensationally somersaulting into a bin.
Much more singing and dancing was to follow, with tournament sponsors Budweiser leaving plenty of bottles of beer out for the squad.
Messi then sensationally returned to the dressing room clutching the World Cup itself, clambering up on to the table and jumping up and down on it.
Boss Lionel Scaloni then arrived donning a retro Argentina shirt, and was promptly drenched by his players.
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Lionel Messi dances with a $10m cheque
Stars were soaked amid the celebrations
Lionel Scaloni donned a retro top
Argentina’s sing-song continued as Aguero was gleefully dragged into a Conga.
A $10million cheque was brought in by an official and held by Messi, who then danced with the huge prize.
Aguero then recorded Messi scrolling through his phone, without his old pal realising.
Stars also sang and danced as they went through the mixed zone after the match.
Messi had just had to go toe-to-toe with his club pal Kylian Mbappe in order to come out on top in this classic encounter.
The 35-year-old got his side off to the perfect start on 23 minutes, tucking away a penalty awarded for Ousmane Dembele’s light shove on Angel Di Maria.
He was involved in his team’s second goal 13 minutes later, his flick setting up a brilliant counter-attack that resulted in Di Maria making it 2-0.
It appeared that Argentina would ease to victory from this point, but Mbappe had other ideas.
His quick-fire late double sent the match into extra time, during which Messi again put his side in front.

But once again, Mbappe would level.
The clash went to penalties, with both Messi and Mbappe scoring theirs before the match was settled by their respective team-mates – Argentina prevailing 4-2 on spot kicks.
After kissing the trophy following the greatest World Cup final, Messi beamed: “I was lucky to have achieved almost everything — and what I was missing is here.
“This was the trophy I wanted all my life. This was my childhood dream. 
“It’s madness. It’s the most beautiful thing there is. Look how she is, she’s gorgeous. I wanted her so much. I had a vision this would be the one. She was getting closer.
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“It’s crazy it happened this way. I knew  God was going to give it to me. It’s simply unbelievable. It’s a big joy for us.
“We suffered a lot but we got it. I wanted to close my career with World Cup. I can’t ask more than this.”

Lionel Messi lifts the World Cup trophyCredit: AP More

LIONEL MESSI replicated Diego Maradona’s iconic pose from 1986 as he fulfilled his lifelong dream by winning the World Cup.The Argentina superstar lifted the only major trophy that had eluded him and said the penalty shootout triumph over France was written in the stars.
Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup replicating his idol Diego MaradonaCredit: Getty
Diego Maradona won the World Cup in 1986
The victory sparked mass celebrations in which Messi was lifted above the rest of his team-mates while holding the trophy in the air.
Messi, 35, staked his claim to be the greatest of all time (GOAT) scoring  twice in the 3-3 draw over 120 minutes before converting from the spot to emulate Diego Maradona’s class of 1986.
After kissing the trophy  following  the greatest World Cup final, Messi beamed: “I was lucky to have achieved almost everything — and what I was missing is here.
“This was the trophy I wanted all my life. This was my childhood dream. 
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“It’s madness. It’s the most beautiful thing there is. Look how she is, she’s gorgeous. I wanted her so much. I had a vision this would be the one. She was getting closer.
“It’s crazy it happened this way. I knew  God was going to give it to me. It’s simply unbelievable. It’s a big joy for us.
“We suffered a lot but we got it. I wanted to close my career with World Cup. I can’t ask more than this.”
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has also lifted the Champions League four times as well as the 2021  Copa America.
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Now, after adding the third World Cup star to Argentina’s shirt, he will enjoy the celebrations at home and continue  playing for his country.
The Paris Saint-Germain star, 35, who said before Qatar that it would be his last World Cup, also  earned the Golden Ball for best player.
He  added: “I was able to get the Copa America, now the World Cup. It came to me almost at the end. I love football, what I do. I enjoy being in the national team, the group.
“I’m not going to retire from the national team. I want to keep playing as World Cup champions in an Argentina shirt. I can’t wait to be in Argentina to see how crazy that is going to be.”
Lionel Scaloni is the coach who finally cracked the code and found a way to turn a Messi-inspired Argentina into champions.
Messi celebrates winning the World Cup with his family after the epic clash with FranceCredit: Reuters
Messi netted twice, including this effort in extra-time, before the penalty shootout winCredit: Getty
Wearing an Argentina shirt with the third star already on it, emotional Scaloni said: “We need to save him for the World Cup, if he wants to keep playing he will be with us.
“He is more than  entitled to decide what he wants to do with his career. It is such a huge pleasure to coach him.
“Everything he transmits to his team-mates is something unparalleled that I have never seen before.”
Scaloni, once a right back on loan at West Ham, was proud to have brought joy to a country suffering from severe economic problems.
Scaloni said: “It was a completely insane game. We should have won it in 90 minutes and 120 minutes. We deserved the victory. I am just happy that people are joyful.
“For us in Argentina football is not just football and we have to understand things can go wrong. Sometimes people thought in the past players were not giving their all.
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“Life goes on and our problems are not going anywhere but that joy we have been able to send to our people is great.”
France hat-trick hero Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot with eight goals while England claimed the Fifa Fair Play award for collecting just one yellow card in the tournament. More

WORLD CUP winner Lionel Messi has confirmed that he will not be retiring from international football.The star was instrumental in Argentina’s third World Cup win as they overcame France at the Lusail Stadium.
Lionel Messi has confirmed that he will not be retiring from international football after winning the World CupCredit: AP
Messi even hinted he could defend the World Cup in four years timeCredit: AP
There had been suggestions that the 35-year-old would retire from international football after the final, but he has shot those rumours down.
He told TyC Sports after the game: “I am not retiring from the Argentina national team.
“I want to continue playing as a champion”.
Messi also revealed that he feels fulfilled after winning the last trophy to complete his cabinet.
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He added: “We suffer, but we already have it (the World Cup).
 “I wanted to close my career with this, I can no longer ask for anything else, thank God, he gave me everything.”
Messi netted twice in the scintillating game as it went all the way to penalties, with Gonzalo Montiel’s spot kick sealing the win.
Despite leading 2-0 in the game, Argentina were pegged back after a brace from Kylian Mbappe.
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The France star then cancelled out Messi’s extra-time goal with his second from the spot.
But it was meant to be Messi’s tournament, with the PSG ace also honoured with the Golden Ball for best player of the tournament.
Mbappe did pip him to the Golden Boot though as he netted eight goals in his seven games.
And after lifting the trophy Messi admitted how “lucky” he feels to have had such a glittering career.
He said: “I was lucky to have achieved everything in this career… and this one that was missing is here.
“It’s madness… look how she (the World Cup) is, she’s gorgeous.
“I wanted her so much. I had a vision that this would be the one… she was getting closer.”
He added in an Instagram post: “WORLD CHAMPIONS!! I dreamed of it so many times, I wanted it so much, I can’t believe it…
“Thank you very much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us.
“We demonstrate once again that, as Argentines, when we fight together and united we are capable of achieving what we set out to do.
“The credit belongs to this group, which is above individualities, it is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the dream of all Argentines… We did it!!!”
Messi’s next international tournament will be the Copa America in 2024.
Argentina will be aiming to retain the trophy after winning the competition in 2021.
Manager Lionel Scaloni has also said that he would like to see Messi stay on playing for Argentina.
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He said: “Messi should have a place in the next World Cup, we want him to continue.
“If he wants to keep playing, the ’10’ will always be ready for Lionel”. More

LIONEL MESSI’S second goal in the World Cup final should NOT have stood, eagle eyed fans claim.The Argentine superstar bagged twice on the way to his side winning the trophy he coveted most in a thriller against France.
Lionel Messi put Argentina 3-2 up in extra timeCredit: Getty
The 35-year-old celebrates his second goalCredit: Getty
His first came from the penalty spot before Angel Di Maria made it 2-0, putting the Albiceleste in a commanding position.
Kylian Mbappe inspired an incredible late French comeback, however, his quick-fire double sending the match into extra time.
Messi, 35, put his side back in front in the 108th minute, however, netting the rebound after Hugo Lloris saved Lautaro Martinez’s shot.
It initially appeared that the effort might be ruled out for offside, when the linesman momentarily raised his flag.

But when TV pictures confirmed Martinez had in fact been onside in the build-up, the goal, which was nearly cleared off the line by defender Jules Kounde, was allowed to stand.
Watching a wide angle of the goal back, however, some fans believe that it SHOULD have been chalked off.
In a snap posted to Twitter, two Argentina substitutes could be seen on the pitch as Messi took the shot.
Their hasty celebrations meant that their side had 13 players on the field.
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Argentina had 13 players on the field as Messi put them 3-2 upCredit: Twitter
One fan wrote: “Trivia. When the ball goes in, there are two substitutes on the pitch. Argentina had thirteen players on the field.”
A second replied: “I noticed that too.”
While a third fumed: “Wordless. But Argentina can’t win a world championship without help? It’s shameful.”
Another wondered: “I don’t know if it’s a technicality or if this can pass.”
One commenter argued back that the infringement didn’t actually matter.
They tweeted: “Go read the rules, didn’t intervene in the bid and in the game, legal goal.
“This has already happened several times, including one in Libertadores.”
As it happened, Mbappe would equalise again for France, netting from the penalty spot after Leandro Paredes’ handball.
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Randal Kolo Muani had the chance to win it for Les Bleus with just seconds remaining but was brilliantly denied by Emi Martinez.
And the Argentine stopper then played a huge role in the penalty shoot-out, saving from Kingsley Coman and psyching out Aurelien Tchouameni on the way to a 4-2 win. More

FANS all said the same thing as Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacted to Lionel Messi winning the World Cup.The Swedish giant, 41, was in the stands of the Lusail Stadium as Argentina eventually beat France in a truly epic final.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic watched the World Cup final with French pair Paul Pogba and Emmanuel MacronCredit: EPA
He looked pretty unimpressed next to wife Helena Seger as Argentina wonCredit: Alamy
Argentina led 2-0 and 3-2 before Messi at long last got his hands on the World Cup trophy after Gonzalo Montiel slotted the winning penalty into the back of the net.
But as Messi fell to his knees in joyful celebration, one man looked rather unimpressed.
Ibrahimovic remained stoney-faced with his wife Helena Seger.
That is despite his former team-mate finally getting his hands on the one trophy that eluded him.
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Messi and Ibrahimovic were part of the same Barcelona side in 2009-10.
But it seems Zlatan was cheering on France – after sitting next to Paul Pogba and French president Emmanuel Macron for the final.
Earlier on he was pictured with PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi in the posh areas behind the scenes.
And fans on Twitter were convinced Ibra was not-so-secretly gutted about the result of the World Cup final.
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One said: “Zlatan wanted France to win.”
Another joked: “Zlatan look like he had money on France.”
And a third added: “Zlatan Ibrahimovic looking so lost. Perhaps he was hoping to milk France winning the trophy.”
Messi will not care at all, though, as he lifted the iconic trophy with his Argentina team-mates.
He scored twice in the thrilling final while Kylian Mbappe grabbed a hat-trick as it went to the shootout.
And misses by Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni from 12 yards gave Montiel the chance to seal it – which he did with utter composure.
That sparked wild scenes in the Lusail Stadium as Messi celebrated with his family and Sergio Aguero joined in the fun as well as back in Buenos Aires after La Albiceleste secured their first World Cup triumph since 1986.

Lionel Messi was lifted up as he held the trophyCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

ARGENTINA revealed their new badge MINUTES after winning a third World Cup trophy.The new badge includes three stars representing the triumph at the tournament in Qatar.
Argentine won the World Cup against FranceCredit: Getty
Argentina revealed their new badge with three World Cup starsCredit: Twitter – @Argentina
Argentina won the World Cup after a thrilling clash against France.
The two sides battled to a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes and then in extra time both scored to take the game to penalties.
Argentina went perfect in the shootout with Gonzalo Montiel scoring the decisive penalty.
Every nation that has won a World Cup is able to put a star above its badge as a nod to the win.
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England has one star over the Three Lions badge as a nod to the victory in 1966.
Brazil have the most stars on their badge, having won five World Cup tournaments.
With Argentina winning now three, they are now clear of France and Uruguay, who have won two each.
The South Americans are now only one behind Italy and Germany, who have won the tournament on four occasions.
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The new badge has been hailed by fans on social media as one tweeted: “One Two Three. How good they are. I got used to it quickly, although soon there will be four.”
A second added: “They totally deserved it, for the D10S, for Messi, for the most football-loving people in the world”.
A third said: “The stars are beautiful”.
They will try and make it four stars at the next World Cup which will be played in 2026 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. More