Argentinian fans have been celebrating through the night after their team won the World Cup in what some commentators have described as one of the best games in the history of the tournament.

The side beat defending champions France 4-2 on penalties after drawing 3-3 after extra time in front of a 88,000-strong crowd in Qatar.

Fans who had travelled to the Middle East cheered as the players were driven by open-top bus through the streets outside Lusail Stadium.

In the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires, hundreds of thousands of people celebrated their team’s first world championship since 1986.

It was a rare moment of joy for a country struggling with high inflation and an economic crisis that has pushed some 40% of the population into poverty.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Rogelio Vazquez, an Argentinian fan, said: “We could have won it comfortably, but we were forced to suffer, like always.

“But the suffering makes the win all the more enjoyable.”

World Cup: The rest of Messi’s career will play out with satisfaction – however long he stays on the pitch

World Cup: Hundreds of thousands of fans pour onto streets of Buenos Aires after Argentina beat France

Qatar World Cup: Fairytale ending for Messi – Argentina beat France in penalty shootout

Diego Aburgeily, 46, another fan, said: “This team made people fall in love with them for the first time in decades.”

The star of the game was Argentinian captain Lionel Messi, who scored twice at the Lusail Stadium, and was crowned player of the tournament.

Messi, 35, later quashed rumours that he might be about to retire from the sport, telling Argentinian TV: “I want to keep experiencing a few more matches as world champion.

“I knew God would bring this gift to me, I had the feeling that this World Cup was the one.

“It took so long, but here it is. We suffered a lot, but we managed to do it.

“Can’t wait to be in Argentina to witness the insanity of this.”

But he was not the tournament’s top scorer – that honour belonged to Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, who scored eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final, winning him the Golden Boot award.

After the match, several UK sports commentators said the final would go down in history as one of the greatest games of football ever.

Jamie Carragher tweeted: “One of the best games of all time!”

Alan Shearer said: “We’re breathless up here. It was just an unbelievable final. It was great to be here, a pleasure to be here.

“I’ve never seen anything like it and I don’t think I’ll ever see anything like it again. It was staggering.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Gary Lineker said: “It’s been an absolute privilege to watch Lionel Messi for nearly two decades.

“Moment after moment of spellbinding, breathtakingly joyous football. He’s a gift from the footballing Gods.”

Gary Neville said: “Messi should be the centre of attention and it feels right that he has won a World Cup.

“It feels like destiny was there for him and he’s contributed enormous amounts during this tournament.”

For the French fans, there was disappointment, and President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: “Congratulations to the French team for its career and its combativeness in this World Cup.

“You have thrilled the nation and supporters around the world. Congratulations to Argentina for their victory.”

Read more:
Hundreds of thousands of fans pour onto streets of Buenos Aires after Argentina beat France
The rest of Messi’s career will play out with satisfaction – however long he stays on the pitch

The match wrapped up what had been one of the most controversial World Cups in history – with pretournament rows raging over the treatment of migrant workers, LGBT+ rights and the shift of the tournament to winter to avoid the baking summer heat.

The next World Cup finals will be held in the US, Mexico and Canada – the first time the tournament will have been co-hosted since Japan and South Korea in 2002.

Related posts:

Biden and Putin agree to return ambassadors to posts in bid to lower tensions ‘There will be no vaccine against climate change’: Inside a village left devastated by floods Norway bow and arrow attacks that killed five ‘appears to be act of terrorism’, country’s security agency says Shelling ramps up on Ukraine’s frontline as hostilities intensify Hippos descended from Pablo Escobar’s herd to be declared invasive species in Colombia ‘This unlawful occupation is over’: Police clear roads in Canadian capital after three weeks of protests Chemical warfare is ‘a real threat’ right now, says Joe Biden All they will inherit is rubble – relentless Russian bombardment continues as they close on Lysychansk Unprecedented 32.5C in the Arctic Circle during month of smashed global temperature records Crew abandons sinking ship that snapped in half after being hit by deadly typhoon China begins military exercises around Taiwan hours after two suspected drones fly over island’s territory ‘I thought they were attacking us’: Loss and fear in Polish village after missile strike kills two