Argentina and France served up a contender for the greatest World Cup final of them all in a Lusail Stadium classic on Sunday.
Lionel Messi and Argentina twice thought they'd won the game during an enthralling 120 minutes. Irrepressible France hit back from two goals down courtesy of Kylian Mbappe's twin strike to force extra-time. Messi put Argentina back in front but Mbappe completed only the second World Cup final hat-trick to take the game to penalties.
Argentina ultimately got the job done in the shootout, prompting unconfined celebrations among the strong South American contingent in the stadium – and a discussion about the best finals among 21 previous editions.
FIFA+ looks back at other World Cup final classics.
Argentina 3-2 West Germany, 1986
For about 10 minutes of Sunday's exhilarating final we appeared poised for a repeat of the marvellous Azteca Stadium encounter when Argentina won their second World Cup 36 years ago.
Diego Maradona was the South Americans' kingpin in Mexico but it was goals from Jose Luis Brown and Jorge Valdano either side of half-time that put Argentina in charge. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the West Germany captain, gave his team hope with a 74th-minute goal. The comeback was complete when Rudi Voller netted seven minutes later.
But just as momentum threatened to swing, Maradona escaped his shadow, Lothar Matthaus, to release Jorge Burruchaga for the deciding strike.
Italy 3-1 West Germany, 1982
Italy were slow burners in this iridescent Spanish tournament but by the time they reached the final Enzo Bearzot's team were running hot. The villains in the eyes of those distraught they had killed off Brazilian hopes in a drama-filled second group-stage contest, Italy were nigh-on untouchable in the Madrid final.
West Germany were gifted a lifeline when Antonio Cabrini directed a first-half penalty off target. But Golden Boot winner Paolo Rossi headed his sixth goal of the tournament to usher in a breathless 24-minute spell. Marco Tardelli embarked on one of the World Cup's most iconic celebrations after scoring Italy's second and Alessandro Altobelli added a third, reducing Paul Breitner's late goal to the status of consolation.
Brazil 4-1 Italy, 1970
The final that produced a veritable contender for the title of the World Cup's greatest goal. Eight outfield Brazil players featured in a move when the South Americans toyed with their European opponents, before Pele slipped a pass to his right for Carlos Alberto to emphatically crown an exceptional passage of play.
Pele opened the scoring, 12 years after his first World Cup final, but Roberto Boninsegna exploited a defensive lapse to equalise before half-time. This was an imperious Brazil team, however, and the team in yellow returned from the break to capitalise on their dominance with strikes from Gerson and Jairzinho, before captain Alberto charged forward from right-back to apply the gloss.
England 4-2 West Germany, 1966
England were on the cusp of victory after overturning an early deficit to lead with one minute remaining at Wembley. But Wolfgang Weber threatened to spoil the hosts' party with a leveller 60 seconds from the end, leading Sir Alf Ramsey, the England manager, to tell his players, “You've won it once, now you'll have to go out there and win it again”.
Geoff Hurst, who scored the English equaliser, restored his team's lead with a goal that remains the subject of debate 56 years later. But whatever the doubt over whether the striker's shot crossed the line after hitting the bar, there was no questioning the thumping finish that completed Hurst's hat-trick and spawned the immortal Kenneth Wolstenholme ‘… they think it's all over, it is now…' commentary line.
Brazil 5-2 Sweden, 1958
A goal-laden spectacular when hosts Sweden gamely tried but ultimately failed to prevent Brazil from claiming a long-cherished first World Cup.
The match will be forever recalled for the two-goal contribution of a new kid on the block called Pele. Vava scored twice to give the South Americans a half-time advantage after Nils Liedholm caught Brazil cold with a fourth-minute strike.
Enter Pele to open up a two-goal lead with a gorgeous volleyed effort. Mario Zagallo, who would become the first World Cup winner as a player and a coach, scored Brazil's fourth. And all Tore Simonsson's strike for 4-2 did was tweak the tail of Pele, who headed home his second in stoppage time.
West Germany 3-2 Hungary 1954
A final that gained renewed attention during Sunday's clash when writers and statisticians consulted their history books after France regained parity at 2-2.
This showpiece 68 years ago remains the only instance of a team recovering from 2-0 down to claim the Trophy. Hungary walloped a weakened West Germany 8-3 in the group stage. And the first-choice team looked set for a similar humbling when they trailed by two goals after only eight minutes in Bern.
Max Morlock struck two minutes after Hungary's second goal to change the complexion of the game. Helmut Rahn equalised eight minutes later and the forward scored his second goal after 84 minutes to complete a turnaround christened the Miracle of Bern.