World Cup: Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martinez’s Heartwarming Gestures For Kylian Mbappe [Watch]

Argentina duo Lionel Messi and Emiliano Martinez consoled Kylian Mbappe on Sunday after the South Americans won the World Cup in Qatar.

Mbappe netted a hat-trick in the final but finished on the losing side as Argentina defeated France on penalties to bag their third world title – their first since 1986.

While Messi won the World Cup in his fifth attempt, goalkeeper Martinez bagged the coveted trophy in his maiden World Cup campaign, just like Mbappe had done for France four years ago in Russia.

While the Argentinians broke into emotional celebrations after the big finale at Lusail Stadium on Sunday, Mbappe was left heartbroken. The 23-year-old Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward kept France alive in the game single-handedly till the end. As Argentina were 2-0 up till the 80th minute and were cruising close to Messi’s dream moment, Mbappe ruined the party with two goals in a span of a minute and forced a penalty shoot-out.

Later on, Messi was seen hugging his PSG teammate. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was also seen shaking hands with the French superstar.

Before Messi and Scaloni approached Mbappe, it was Argentina’s goalkeeper Martinez the player. When the French forward was seen sitting on the ground, devastated and trying to soak in the defeat, Martinez walked up to him, picked him up from the ground, and spoke to him.

Mbappe was only the second player to score a World Cup final hat-trick.

On Sunday, Messi opened the scoring after Argentina received an early penalty for a foul on Angel di Maria. In the 23rd-minute, France forward Ousmane Dembele put down Di Maria in the box, who won a penalty for his side. Messi converted it successfully from the spot, becoming the first player in World Cup history to score in the group stage, last 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final of a single tournament.

Messi then had a slight touch with a wonderful counter-attack that ended with Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister setting up Di Maria for Argentina’s second goal 13 minutes later. After this, Mbappe gave France new life with a brace before skipper Messi put his side in the lead once again with a strike in the extra-time. However, Mbappe’s hat-trick strike came just in time to push the game to penalties.

Mbappe and Messi took the first two strikes, putting Argentina and France on level at 1-1 in the shoot-out. However, Aston Villa goalkeeper Martinez made an incredible save from Kingsley Coman, before Aurelian Tchouameni missed. Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel scored the decisive penalty.