Lionel Messi's Argentina land World Cup gamble after sensational final victory

Argentina were the big market movers in the build-up to the 2022 World Cup and they landed the gamble in the most extraordinary fashion, beating 2018 champions France 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in Sunday's final.

Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria put the Albiceleste 2-0 up during a dominant first-half display and they were trading at 1.03 on Betfair before France superstar Kylian Mbappe scored in the 80th and 81st minute to take the final to extra-time.

France, lacklustre before Mbappe's late intervention, hit 49-1 in-play to lift the trophy. Argentina must have thought they had won it again when Messi poked home his second goal in the 108th minute before his Paris St-Germain teammate Mbappe made it 3-3 from the penalty spot with just over two minutes remaining in extra-time.

Mbappe then converted France's first penalty of the shootout but Les Bleus missed two of their next three spot-kicks while Argentina scored four out of four to claim their first World Cup since 1986.

The Albiceleste had been 12-1 for the trophy when the draw for the group stage was made in April but their odds were down to 6-1 by the time they arrived in Qatar on a 36-game unbeaten run.

They drifted to 9-1 following a shock 2-1 defeat to 22-1 underdogs Saudi Arabia in their opening Group C fixture but soon got their campaign back on track, inspired by Golden Ball winner Messi.

The 35-year-old legend was 9-2 to be first goalscorer in the final and he held his nerve to convert a 23rd-minute penalty, opening the scoring for the fifth time in seven matches at the tournament.

France, 13-2 third-favourites at the start of the World Cup, were bidding to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back titles.

Bookmakers struggled to split the finalists before the game, offering 10-11 each of two in the betting to lift the trophy. However, the first half was an utterly one-sided contest and Di Maria, 13-2 to score at any time, finished off a wonderful move to put Argentina 2-0 up in the 36th minute.

That triggered bet365's 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout offer, meaning the firm settled pre-match bets on Argentina to win in 90 minutes as winners, in singles, multiples and Bet Builders.

Mbappe's hat-trick, only the second in a World Cup final, helped the 9-1 shot pip Messi to the Golden Boot, with eight goals to the Argentina ace's seven, and the 23-year-old France star still has plenty of major tournaments to look forward to.

Les Bleus are 6-1 second-favourites to win Euro 2024, behind 11-2 hosts Germany. England, whose manager Gareth Southgate will stay on for the European Championships, are 7-1.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who saved from Kingsley Coman in the shootout received the Golden Glove award and his teammate Enzo Fernandez was named young player of the tournament.

Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport