Lionel Messi acquires the missing piece of of his trophy cabinet 

A final deserving of its name. You just can't write scripts like this. Lionel Messi is a world champion. And perhaps or maybe certainly etches his name as the greatest of all time. 

4-2 Nahuel Molina rolls confidently into the bottom left, and Argentina are kings of the world!

Kalo Muani scores keeps France in the hunt 3-2

Parades goes for but keeps it slow, finds the back of the net 3-1

Aurélien Tchouaméni misses and Argentina are on the cusp 2-1

Dybala steps up to give Argentina the advantage 2-1

Kingsly Coman misses from the spot. Martines guesses the right way and jumps to right with poweful hands 1-1

Lionel Messi steps up for Argentina and rolls it into a the net with calm and panache 1-1

France will take the first penalty. Hattrick hero Mbappe steps up and rattles it in. Martinez gets a hand to it but to no avail

Penalties will be taken in Argentina's favoured end

Match goes to penalties. What a final we have on our hands. Finals are meant to be drab affairs. They are mean to be one sided games, but not tonight. 

Extra Time Ends: Argentina 3-3 France

Goal: Argentina 3-3- Kylian Mbappe converts from the spot 

ET 117 mins: Penalty For France

Martinez was only just onside. Messi n the right place at the right time to tap it in. VAR checks. And it's all’s good! Argentina retake the lead

Argentina attack adown the inside-right channel. Messi slips Martinez into the box down the inside-right channel. Martinez creams a pearler goalwards from a tight angle. Lloris parries, but the rebound falls to Messi, who bundles over the line!

ET 109 mins: Goal- Argentina 3-2 France (Lionel Messi)

Second Period Of Extra Time Begins

First Period Of Extra Time Comes To An End: Team level Argentina 2-2 France

ET 5 mins: The game is in the balance. Makes you question where was the French energy all game 

ET 2 mins: Argentina begin the first period of extra time on the front foot. Acuna curls in from the left. Varane clears under pressure from Mac Allister.

Extra Time Begins

You just cant keep champion players quiet for a long time. Within a span of 97 seconds, Mbappe showed why is France's main man. 

Full Time: Argentina 2-2 France: Kylian Mbappe provided just the right stimulus, to breathe life into a hapless French display. First from the penalty spot and then from a  brilliant volley.

90 mins: There will be eight added minutes.

84 mins: The momentum has completely shifted. The French plane has finally landed.

Goal: Argentina 2-2 France: Coman robs Messi in the midfield, out on the right. The ball’s shuttled across the pitch to Mbappe. He one-twos with Thuram down the inside-left channel. He meets the dropping return first time, and sweeps into the bottom right! What drama here!

Goal: Argentina 2-1: Mbappe sends the penalty into the bottom left. It’s not perfect, and Emi Martinez gets fingers to it, but the keeper can’t stop it and this is back on!

79 mins: Penalty For France

77 mins: Nerves will be wrestling, Argentina have shipped a two-goal lead in a World Cup final before. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge scored a brace to spark a West Germany comeback after 74 minutes in 1986. 

Streets of Buenos Aires bustle as Argentina inch closer to the coveted prize. 

68 mins: France looking to ask questions, but still can't find their way through this organised Argentina set up

64 mins: Lionel Messi looks like the Barclona team of prime all forged into one. He's controlling the game like Xavi, creating play like Iniesta, running the flank like Alves and doing what he does best, score and create 

62 mins: France still haven’t had an attempt on goal. Argentina have had nine, with five on target.

55 mins: As the minutes dock down so do the French hopes they desperately need someone to catch the game by the scruff. Mbappe has been silent on the night. 

49 mins: Di Maria looks unreal tonight. Looks reminiscent of the 2014 final where he bossed the game covering every blade of grass. Looks like a man determined to win the man of the match tonight 

46 mins: Argentina pick up from where they left. France midfield looking very ordinary and out of sorts

Second Half Kicks Off

The other record that Messi has also now managed to set is the most minutes by a player in World Cup history. By featuring past the 24th minute, he usurped Italy icon Paolo Maldini’s record of 2,217 minutes played.

He becomes the first player ever to reach 20 goal involvements in the World Cup [12 goals, eight assists], beating Miroslav Klose (16 goals, three assists), Ronaldo Nazario (15 goals, four assists) and Gerd Muller (14 goals, five assists).

His goal also puts him one goal clear of France star Kylian Mbappe in the race for Qatar 2022’s Golden Boot.

Lionel Messi broke numerous records as he put Argentina 1-0 ahead from the spot. He became the first player in World Cup history to score in every stage of the tournament from the groups to Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and now final.

The French simply haven't turned up. France look happless and lost for any ideas. It has been a dominating first half performance by Argentina from the whistle.

Half Time: Argentina 2-0 France

45 mins: It will be seven first half added minutes 

42 mins: Mbappe now leading the French frontline. Deschamps has made ruthless and brave substitions 

41 mins: The French simply haven't turned up. Didier Deschamps makes two changes, taking out Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele replaced by Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani

WATCH: Lionel Messi scores cool penalty to put Argentina 1-0 up against France in FIFA World Cup 2022 Final

35 mins: GOAL Argentina 2-0 France: Justifying his selection! Messi plays a ball around the corner down the right for Alavez, who releases Mac Allister along the wing. Mac Allister swings a low pass across to Di Maria, coming in from the other wing. He takes a touch, strides into the box, and whistles a shot across Lloris and into the bottom right!

31 min: Argentina look in total control right now. France are strangely shapeless.31 min

26 min: France looking to bounce back quickly. Giroud works his way down the inside-right channel and is checked by Romero.

GOAL! Argentina 1-0 France.  Messi strolls up to the spot. and rolls the ball into the bottom right, having sent the keeper the other way. The stadium erupts!

22 mins: Penalty for Argentina. Di Maria brought down in the box by Dembele

19 mins: France have a freekick on the edge of the box from the left side corner. Griezmann finds Lloris who towers over the defenders but can't quite get over it

15 mins: France need to pick up the pace in the game, they have been second best and slow in build up

13 mins: First bit of ball possession by France and they immediately look to threaten through Mbappe

9 mins: Hugo Lloris takes a knock as he goes up to claim a corner. Much needed time for France to regroup as Didier Deschamps talks nervously to his assistant

6 min: France holding on to their nerves in these early minutes. Argentina keeping winning possession in the middle of the park

3 Min: Di Maria digs out a cross from an unpromising position on the left. De Paul and Messi combine to the right of the box. The ball’s scooped through to Alvarez, who attempts to poke into the bottom left while on the turn.

Argentina on the front foot and look to attack the French goal

 Kylian, singing along with a cheeky smile, just about managed to stop himself bursting out with laughter.

The teams are out! Argentina in their albiceleste, France their bleu. There’s a wild anticipatory atmosphere at the Lusail Iconic Stadium; it’s the World Cup final all right! Once the anthems and all other pre-match rituals are complete, edition number 22 will be underway.

Who will lift the coveted Jules Rimet Trophy?

Indian Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan made his first move towards the promotion of his highly awaited film Pathaan. During the live session, SRK also happened to teach Wayne his iconic signature pose. 

FIFA WC 2022 Final: Shah Rukh Khan teaches Wayne Rooney his signature pose - watch video

Lionel Messi is set to surpass Lothar Matthaus as the record appearance maker at the men's World Cup 

Today’s referee, Szymon Marciniak, will become the first Pole to take charge of a World Cup final. The 41-year-old has already officiated matches involving Argentina and France during this World Cup. In the groups, he took charge of France 2-1 Denmark, while in the round of 16 he officiated Argentina's 2-1 win over Australia without dishing out a single card.

A lot of big names from the football fraternity at the Lusail stadium. Former teammates Paul Pogba a World Cup winner and Zlatan Ibrahimovic take their seats ahead of the World Cup final 

The closing ceremony has taken place. A celebratory “mash-up of songs from the World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack” performed by Aisha, Ozuna, Gims, Nora Fatehi, Balqees, Rahma Riad and Manal. Tracks included Hayya Hayya (Better Together), Arhbo

Argentina's team is in- Martínez, Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuña, Di María, De Paul, Fernández, Mac Allister, Messi, Álvarez.

France XI confirmed-   Lloris, Kounde, Upamecano, Varane, T Hernandez, Rabiot, Tchouameni, Griezmann, Dembele, Giroud, Mbappe

The calm before the storm. Pin drop silencein the Argentina dressing room ahead of the mouthwatering clash against the defending champions France 

Fans galore outside the Lusail stadium in Qatar ahead of the high octane clash 

In the Semi Final France faced a highly confident Morocco side that pulled off massive upsets against Spain and Portugal. Morocco put on a spirited performance but were eventually beaten 2-0

In the Quarter-Final France took on England, perhaps their biggest test of the tournament so far. Aurelie Tchouameni put France ahead with a wonder strike, before Harry Kane scored from the spot to put both teams tied at the break. In the second-half, Giroud scored to restore France's slender lead. England had a golden chance to equalise from the spot once again, but Kane failed to convert this time, allowing France to secure progression.

In the Round of 16 Mbappe stepped up and scored twice in the second-half as Oliver Giroud also scored to give France a 3-1 win

While the progression to the next round was already sealed, Deschamps' men were stunned 0-1 by Tunisia in their final group game.

In the next match, Mbappe scored on either side of an Andreas Christensen strike for Denmark to give the holders a 2-1 win.

In their opening match, France were stunned after Graig Goodwin had put Australia 1-0 up inside the first 10 minutes. However, Adrien Rabiot equalised for Les Bleus, before Giroud scored twice to turn the game on its head. Mbappe landed the final blow as France won the game 4-1 in the end.

France were clubbed in Group D alongisde Denmark, Australia and Tunisia.

In the semi finals many expected Luka Modric's Croatia to give Argentina a tough fight. Messi and co. had to face a tough Croatia side, who defeated Brazil from the penalty spot. Scaloni’s pupils were however too strong for the European side, who were never close to defeating the Argentinians (3-0).

The semi final was arguably the best game of the tournament. But luck was on Argentina’s side, as they advanced to the semifinals after defeating their opponents in the penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in 120 minutes of game (4-3 on penalties).

In the quarterfinals, Argentina faced one of the most solid teams, the Netherlands. Luis Van Gaal's orange brigade was waiting and were on an impressive 19-game unbeaten streak since he took the reigns of the Oranje team.

Argentina ended up topping Group C, which set a round of 16 game vs. the surprising Australian team. The two-time world champs managed to defeat Graham Arnold’s team men in a match where Argentina were the superior squad, despite the final score.

Road To The Final- Argentina entered the tournament as one of the top two favorites to go all the way in Qatar together with Neymar’s Brazil. A mix of talented veteran and young players led by all-time great Lionel Messi looked like the perfect time to try to conquer their third World Cup title. The soccer world was shocked after witnessing one of the biggest upsets in recent World Cup editions, when Saudi Arabia, defeated Argentina in their Group C opener (1-2). That embarrassing loss left Lionel Scaloni’s men with no room for more mistakes in the group stage they went on to defeat defeat Mexico to avoid elimination and Poland too in what were considered do-or-die games.

Les Bleus will step out on the Lusail turf as the first holders in 24 years to participate in the final. They booked their place courtesy to a 2-0 win over African trailblazers Morocco in the semi-finals

If Lionel Messi lifts the World Cup trophy it will not only represent a victory for Argentina’s captain but his unlikely new benefactor, Saudi Arabia. The Saudis inflicted a shock, humiliating defeat upon Argentina in their opening game of the tournament, but Messi, has been paid to be an ambassador for Saudi Arabia under a reported £25m contract. He could thus deliver a long-term prize worth far more with a chance for Saudi to emulate Qatar and host the 2030 World Cup.

There’s the golden boot to be decided too with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé locked on five goals apiece, with Julián Alvarez and Olivier Giroud both on four.

Good evening and welcome to the FIFA World Cup Final live updates. 29 days, 63 matches, and it finally culminates with Argentina's veteran legend Lionel Messi going up against France superstar Kylian Mbappe. While Messi seeks to cement his face on the Mount Rushmore of football greats, Kylian Mbappe is looking to emulate Brazil legend Pele by winning back to back World Cups.