Messi drives forward in the attacking half and wins a free kick, helping Argentina establish early territorial pressure.

Messi commits a foul early in the first half, briefly halting Argentina’s momentum.

Messi threads a pass into the box for Ángel Di María, whose right-footed shot from the center of the area flies high and wide.

Messi calmly converts a penalty with a left-footed strike to the bottom-right corner, putting Argentina 1–0 ahead.

Under pressure near his own half, Messi protects the ball and draws a foul to win a free kick in the defensive half.

Play is briefly stopped as Messi goes down injured, causing concern before he is able to continue.

Messi is caught offside as Argentina tries to break the French defensive line, halting a promising attack.

Messi finds space in the center of the box and shoots with his right foot, sending the effort just wide of the right post.

Messi lays the ball off to Enzo Fernández, whose driven right-footed shot from distance is saved low by Lloris.

Messi is whistled for a foul in extra time as he tries to win back possession in midfield.

Messi concedes a corner to France, reflecting the mounting defensive pressure in extra time.

Messi slips a pass into the box for Lautaro Martínez, whose central shot is blocked at close range.

From the right side of the box, Messi strikes left-footed toward the bottom-right corner, but Lloris saves to keep France level.

Messi reacts quickest to a loose ball in front of goal and pokes a right-footed shot over the line from close range to make it 3–2 Argentina.

In the shootout, Messi steps up and coolly slots his penalty with his left foot into the bottom-left corner, keeping Argentina ahead.