Twice Argentina led, twice France equalized and as if there was some cosmic spirit in play in extra time Argentina struck again and France pulled away the hope, via a third goal and second from the spot.

As they say, it is hope that kills.

Argentina have been to hell and back over the years, a game that was meant to be the final of all finals, Messi’s swan song and last dance at the Lusial iconic stadium.

Lionel Scaloni had started with 4-3-3 with Di Maria out wide and like he has been throughout the tournament, that was a piece of tactical master stroke as Di Maria won Argentina its first goal via a penalty and smoothly rolled the ball into the back of Hugo Lori’s Net all in the first half.

At the time the French looked out of sorts, they looked down and out, then Didier Deschamps came up with a master stroke of his own, before half time taking off Giroud and Dembele for Thuram and Kolo muani.

The two injected pace and led the French press impeccably well until Deschamps further brought on Coleman and Fofana in the second half, it wasn’t a surprise when Muani won France a penalty which was expertly converted by Mbappe and soon after made it 2 all via a half volley after Coleman turned possession over from Messi and found Mbappe in space, with a drop down and combination play, he darted into space and made it 2:2 in just a matter of minutes.

While Mbappe tried, Messi still led and carried the Argentine’s on. Angel Dimaria all night looked broken and drowned in his own tears.

It was Messi’s 26th World Cup game, one that feels like the last of the lot. It was the one that brought him what has eluded a couple of times in the past.

While the commentary will be about Messi and rightly so, Emi Martinez literally handed the cup to Messi on a silver platter, Di Maria began the onslaught, Gonzalo Montiel rolled in that final penalty and off course casted what at the time still absurdly didn’t make sense in stone.

While Di Maria still couldn’t believe and kept weeping, Sergio Aguerro found his way onto the pitch, just a few steps away the French Gallant soldiers stood there looking distraught, French President Manuel Macron took it upon himself to console them, especially Mbappe, as Cuti had celebrated in his face after Montiel put the icing on the cake, he had bailed the French out three times but still wasn’t enough, two days shy of his 24th birthday, yet he looked like a well accomplished French legend. Sadly it wasn’t to be.

Messi’s mom somehow found her way onto the pitch and hugged her son passionately, the boy who left Rosario at 13 seem to be the man returning home with the very trophy that has been the most sort after in Argentina since 1986, it was written, it was written.

When Messi was called to take his player of the tournament award, he just couldn’t walk away seeing the trophy, he kissed it and smiled to the cameras, he would return to raise it to the Arabian skies filled with Argentine tears and joy while fully colored in blue and white.

Did I say the icing on the cake earlier?

Well, the real icing was the sight of Antonella, Messi’s childhood and lifelong sweetheart who had joined him on the podium to take a moment and take it all in, afterwards he was carried around by his peers while he flaunted the trophy.

It was written, yes it was, while bizarre and nervy, truly there was closure at last.