Messi's seventh goal at World Cup gives Argentina lead in extra time

Dec 13, 2022; Lusail, Qatar; Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) moves the ball ahead of Croatia forward Andrej Kramaric (9) during the second half of a semifinal match during the 2022 World Cup at Lusail Stadium. Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Lionel Messi's seventh goal at 2022 World Cup gives Argentina lead in extra time

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 12/18/22

Lionel Messi scored two goals in the World Cup final, the second in the 108th minute to give Argentina a 3-2 lead in extra time.

The call via Telemundo was absolutely incredible.

¡¡¡GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL DE ARGENTINAAAAAAAAAA!!!

¡¡¡LEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MEEEEEEEEESSIIIIII!!! ¡DOBLETEEEEEEE DE LEEEEOOOOO!

¡A MINUTOS DE SER CAMPEONES!#ARG 3-2 #FRA #MundialTelemundo #ElMundialLoEsTodo #Qatar2022 #ARGvsFRA pic.twitter.com/49Yd3TYmQB
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) December 18, 2022

France stormed back from a 2-0 deficit with goals by Kylian Mbappe in the 80th and 81st minutes that forced more action in an epic 2022 final.
Minutes after Messi scored his goal in extra time, Mbappe scored his third goal on a penalty kick.

Argentina won the penalty shootout 4-2 to secure the national team's first World Cup since 1986.

For a moment, it looked like Messi delivered the winning goal. Twitter praised the all-time great on a phenomenal game and World Cup run.

No player has scored more goals in this World Cup than Lionel Messi (7) #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DTKQmlinKo
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) December 18, 2022

Hoping Messi gets across the finish line, but either way, this absolutely lived up to the hype. One of the greatest games, any sport, ever played
— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) December 18, 2022

LIONEL MESSI OMG pic.twitter.com/hqcoX8C4mZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 18, 2022

Messi dropped a World Cup campaign classic and on top of that, a World Cup final classic. Nothing more he could've done in regular time.
— Umir (@umirf1) December 18, 2022

The World Cup has been filled with excitement as FRANCE jumped out 2-0 but ARGENTINA led by the @KingJames of soccer MESSI now leading 3-2 - yes he is so so so GOOD ! Wow restaurant PARIS Bistrot going wild as France tied it up 3-3.
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) December 18, 2022

Messi might have just secured the GOAT status with this goal. pic.twitter.com/FUmqLpNA2K
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) December 18, 2022

Messi has to be the best short king athlete of all time, right?
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 18, 2022

Messi finishes his World Cup career with 13 goals. All five of his goals in the knockout stage came this year. He reiterated after the team's 3-0 win over Croatia that the 2022 final would be his last match at the World Cup.
He reminded everyone over the past two months why he's considered in a class with the sport's all-time greats. His performance in the World Cup final is the stuff legends are made of.

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