Supporters packed a square in central Paris on Monday to give a rousing welcome to the French football team despite their loss to Argentina in a nail-biting World Cup final.

For the last month, Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates have brought success and unity to their fans, in stark contrast to the country's economic woes and polarized political landscape.

We could not have asked for a better ending to a magnificent World Cup in Qatar on Sunday, with little magician Lionel Messi finally laying his hands on that glittering piece of glory after a nerve-wracking final that Argentina won 4-2 on penalties against holders France after regulation and extra time ended with the scores level.

Lionel Messi flaunted the World Cup trophy to former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez after Argentina's triumph over France in the final.

Fans will on Monday get the chance to meet the national team on its return from Qatar where they lost to Argentina in a nail-biting World Cup final, the French Football Federation (FFF) said.

Emi Martinez has explained his lewd Golden Glove trophy celebration, with the Argentina star claiming the top goalkeeping prize at the 2022 World Cup.

Argentine Santiago Cutaia, 34, had never felt the elation of his country winning the soccer World Cup before, born two years after late icon Diego Maradona last hoisted the trophy aloft for the Albiceleste in 1986.

Former players came together in acclaiming the World Cup final in Qatar as one of the best ever after Argentina beat France on penalties following a pulsating 3-3 draw.

This Sunday, December 18, although it may seem strange because of the date, the Qatar 2022 World Cup ended with Argentina as champion, winning the cup again 36 years after Maradona lifted it.

Lionel Messi finally has 'his' World Cup after defeating France in a penalty shootout in one of the most exciting finals in World Cup history.

Lionel Messi and his teammates set off for Argentina with the most coveted prize in football as millions of compatriots waited to welcome them home on Monday and catch a glimpse of the World Cup trophy.

Legendary, greatest, immortal: News media across the planet ran out of superlatives after Lionel Messi led Argentina to victory in one of the most dramatic World Cup finals ever.

Argentina were made to suffer before landing their first World Cup title in 36 years, having twice squandered a lead, including in extra-time before edging past defending champions France 4-2 on penalties in the final on Sunday.

France coach Didier Deschamps said the way his team lost Sunday’s World Cup final against Argentina was “cruel” after they came from behind twice over the course of the game only to succumb in a penalty shoot-out.

Lionel Messi finally won the World Cup as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after a thrilling World Cup final finished 3-3 after extra time in Qatar on Sunday.

Hundreds of thousands of Argentines poured into the sunlit streets of Buenos Aires on Sunday, ecstatic after a nail-biting victory on penalties in the World Cup final over France made the South Americans world champions for the first time since 1986.

A World Cup that has defied all expectations reaches its climax on Sunday when Lionel Messi could join Diego Maradona in Argentine immortality by taking the south Americans to the title or France could become the first nation to retain it since 1962.

Morocco will leave Qatar proud and happy after becoming the first African or Arabic team to reach the last four at a World Cup but they should strive for more in the future, coach Walid Regragui said on Saturday.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said it was “destiny” to win the World Cup after starring in the nail-biting penalty shootout victory over France in Sunday’s final.

Vamos Argentina has been the resounding choir on match days and non-match days, among Argentina fans who made up a majority of the Qatar 2022 fanbase. Now there was Allez Les Bleus -- another choir to rival that. Maybe the roars of ‘Allez Les Blues’ was not as  deafening as La Albiceleste’s ‘Vamos Argentina’, but certainly equal in expectation and fervour.