01x04 - Redemption

[bunniefuu]

[reporter 1] Less than four weeks ago,

Argentina's World Cup dreams had
rapidly turned into a nightmare.

But through character, through quality,

through grit and guts, they recovered.

And here they are on the brink
of becoming World Cup champions.

- [in Spanish] My turn?
- [De Paul] Go ahead.

Are you sure?

Play a low card.

Point?

- No, it's not enough.
- Nothing?

- Nothing.
- You like it?

- Point!
- There.

- [De Paul] Bid.
- Here.

I don't have anything.

It's over.

I have the horse.

Trick!

[chattering continues]

[Messi] I was trying to enjoy it
in a different way,

knowing that surely
it was going to be my last World Cup.

And I gave a lot of attention
to smaller things

that I wouldn't have
paid attention to before.

Enjoying the day-to-day
of being with my teammates,

hanging in a hotel room drinking maté,
talking, going to practice.

[fan] Greetings, Leo.

[Messi] This was
all about unconsciously thinking

that it could be my last World Cup.

To enjoy it to the fullest.

[whistle blows]

[Messi] I needed that positive energy
more than anything right before the final,

since the toughest opponent was coming up.

[commentator 1, in English]
Mbappé. Those dancing feet.

Oh, it must be! Kolo Muani!

France have their date with destiny.

They're in the final again.

Only Messi and Argentina
can wrestle it from them now.

Tactically, France felt superior.

Talent-wise, France felt superior.

[Martínez] They have Dembélé.
They have Griezmann. They have Giroud.

They have the best players in the world
playing for Real Madrid, Barcelona.

[Arévalo, in Spanish] It's difficult
to imagine that this can end well

because they had eliminated us
from the previous World Cup.

[commentator 1] An all-time World Cup
classic, as France beat Argentina.

[Martínez] They won the previous
World Cup. They were hard to beat.

[Messi, in Spanish]
They truly are a great team.

A very tough opponent to stop
when given the space.

[commentator 2]
France look long, toward Lucas Digne.

Good ball into the box
for Mbappé to touch it in.

[Messi, in Spanish]
And then there was Mbappé.

[commentator 2] Kylian Mbappé
tricks his way through and somehow,

- from there squeezed it in.
- [Arévalo, in Spanish] They had Mbappé,

who aspired to Messi's throne.

[commentator 2, in English] Mbappé
with his 29th European goal for Paris.

[Lineker] Mbappé is
an incredibly intelligent footballer.

I mean,
he does things tactically and stuff.

You can see things
that he does on the pitch.

He's brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

[commentator 3]
Can he seal it now? Mbappé!

Oh! What an accomplished finish!

[reporter 2] There is a real case that
this is the greatest living player

playing the game today, Kylian Mbappé.

[Mbappé] I didn't come here
to win the Golden Ball, the Golden Boot.

I came to win this World Cup.

We were gifted, we were blessed
in this World Cup final

with a true heavyweight clash

between the young phenom
and the globally beloved icon.

[Lineker] It was all set up to be
an extraordinary match.

And those things always let you down,

until today.

[fans chanting]

[reporter 3]
How much pressure is Messi having

because you're facing Mbappé?

[in Spanish] Tomorrow's match is
Argentina vs. France,

that much is undeniable,
beyond "Messi vs. Mbappé."

We both have the necessary weapons

so that the match can be decided
by other players.

[reporter 4, in English] Now we've got
Mbappé in the running here to finish

with the Golden Boot for the most goals.

[reporter 5]
He's up to nine career World Cup goals.

That's the most of any player
under the age of 24.

[whistle blows]

[Martínez] We don't feel
inferior or superior to anybody.

The only advantage we have is
we have the best player.

Having the best generates
a lot of energy for the team.

With enthusiasm and joy,

it helps us a lot.

[reporter 6] Have we seen
a different Messi this World Cup?

In terms of the emotions he's expressed,
particularly after the Netherlands game?

[reporter 7] Yeah. All the pressure's
on his shoulders. It's his last World Cup.

He knows it. Everyone wants to win it
for him. All the fans wanna win it.

[Messi, in Spanish]
The truth is I am also a bit anxious

and eager to be there already.

Reaching a World Cup final is not easy.

It's not easy to win a World Cup.

[interviewer] Are you superstitious?

No. I just need to be in good shape
and think positively,

that it's going to be a great match.

But anything can happen
in the world of soccer.

[Fernández]
Yes. I always use the same soccer shoes.

And the same insoles for the shoes too.
They can't be changed.

I can't even take them off for practice.

Putting a rosary on my shirt

while I'm changing is also
one of my superstitions.

[Martínez, in English] We pray. We use
the same boots, I use the same gloves.

And so does Messi, so Paredes, so Scaloni.
They wear the same shirt.

Even players, they talk to witches and...
[chuckles]

...and that's us.

[reporter 8, in Spanish]
Soccer fans everywhere,

we're moments away from what should be
a sensational World Cup match.

And we know that you,
the witches of "La Brujineta,"

are working especially hard on your magic
to help turn the tide for "La Scaloneta."

[fan] It's difficult to give only
one definition of what witchcraft is

or why one performs rituals
and these types of things.

I think you see it a lot in soccer
because people have a great desire to win.

And from your home,
there's not much you can do besides that.

You can't sit around doing nothing

because it's like an immense feeling
that compels you to do something.

[reporter 9] Nobody doubts
the effectiveness of the team.

But, while there's confidence in the team,

many partake
in all manner of superstitions,

the so-called rituals,
in an attempt to help ensure a victory.

I let my hair down during the second half
against Mexico.

Within ten minutes came Messi's goal,

so I won't put it back up all month
until the 18th.

[fan 2] A piece of ginger under the bed.

A little altar to Diego
with the Virgin and a candle.

And the Bible above the television.

The lucky charm for Racing and Argentina.

[kisses]

My grandfather will do it.

My grandfather
will make Argentina champions.

I froze the names of the opposing teams
so that... [chuckles]

Of course, I thawed them afterwards.

[Allende] It's like we're all doing
our part from where we are.

Like, we're not asking the players
for the Cup.

We're all doing it together.

It's a feeling of,
the entire country did this.

[reporter 1] While this World Cup
has been different in so many ways,

one thing has been constant.

And that has been the support
the Argentine fans have given their side.

And all of them will be hoping that
the little man from Rosario

can finally lift the World Cup
and crown his momentous career.

[in Spanish] Right now,
my only lucky charm is to cross my fingers

and hope Messi works his magic.

[fan 3] What can I say to the Messiah?

Win or lose,

nothing will change what you've
accomplished with the Argentinian jersey.

You're just missing the icing on the cake,

and I'm sure you'll eat
all those Frenchmen alive.

[in English] Tommy, do you know Messi?

Man, what a player and what a career.

I think Messi's the GOAT. I think
you can't get much better than that.

[in Spanish]
Messi, it's me, the Black Godfather.

[in English]
I just want to say te amo to you.

I love you, brother. You are the best.

You know, for me, he's one of the greatest
soccer players in the history.

So he really deserves
winning the World Cup.

[commentator 1] Across every continent
on the face of the globe.

Argentina, 36 years since last
they ruled over Planet Football.

The most vivid and voluble supporters
here throughout.

[fans cheering]

[in Spanish] Let's go!

Today is the day. Let's go, Argentina.

We can't believe it.
Every day we asked ourselves,

with every match, "What will
the accommodations be like inside?"

[laughing]

How could we not believe in magic?
How could we not believe in magic?

[rhythmic clapping]

[players singing]

[interviewer]
How will you know when this is over?

[Messi] As long as I'm physically healthy
and my body is responding,

I'm going to try and keep playing.

And then,
the day that I no longer enjoy it,

when I no longer enjoy the day-to-day
of playing and training,

I think that will be the moment when
I'll realize I don't have to keep going.

For now, I still enjoy it a lot.

I enjoy it much more than before.

I've had a long career.

Many things have happened to me.

I grew a lot as a soccer player
and as a person.

It's been a lifetime.

Finishing my final year
winning a World Cup

would be a dream ending.

[players singing]

It's hard to find players
of that size and caliber

who have embodied
what he has in his career.

And I think
after winning the Copa América,

an idolism was generated among the people
that you see today here at the World Cup.

Messi won everything he could win

but he was missing a title with the
national team, which was denied to him.

The world wants to see it.

The world wants Messi to be champion.

There are hundreds of millions,
maybe two billion people

who are watching Messi,

who are expecting him
to determine everything.

But Argentina wasn't the favorite because
France was a team that played very well.

And then there was the memory
of what Mbappé had done

in the 2018 World Cup.

[Bennett, in English]
Mbappé had already won it.

And at 23, he was going to
try and win his second,

which would cement him in his youth

almost as the undoubted
greatest player in the world.

This was the ultimate antagonist

who threatened to shatter
Messi's dream ending.

[Di María, in Spanish]
The adrenaline, the nerves,

everything that runs through your body...

If we feel all this, just imagine Leo.

[Martínez, in English]
Messi, he'd done an amazing speech

talking about family and what it cost us
to be in the World Cup,

and we just-- Made us cry
to basically everyone, you know?

It was like a group of friends going to
an adventure and just reaching the end.

[person] Twenty seconds. Twenty seconds.

[Martínez] He said, "Whatever happens,

I thank you
for everything you've done for me."

And he would say, "This is it.
This is the one, you know?

We have to hold it."

[commentator 1]
Lionel Messi stares up at his final peak.

Kylian Mbappé prowls
in the foothills of greatness.

From the Andes to the Alps,

from River Plate
to the banks of the Seine,

our planet unites
around its ultimate game.

[commentator 1]
France again or Argentina at last?

Each for the right to a third star

- on their national jersey.
- [whistle blows]

[commentator 4, in Spanish]
Blessed be soccer!

The grand finale has begun.

[Di María] The truth is that
the first moments of the match,

we had started really well.

We had the ball. We attacked a lot.

We created a lot of chances.

[commentator 1] Messi. De Paul.

- Scooped up towards Álvarez.
- [whistle blows]

[commentator 2] Argentina came out
with much more purpose, aggression,

getting to the ball quicker.

[Di María, in Spanish]
And we could see that France was

somewhat nervous.

Like they didn't understand
what was happening.

[commentator 2] Contrast at the moment.
France looking lethargic.

[De Paul, in Spanish]
They arrived late to every ball.

Where there was one French player,
there were three Argentinians.

[Bennett, in English]
France in that first half,

they were a flat battery. They were dead.

[commentator 5] Mbappé has been
shockingly silent during this first half.

[commentator 2] Argentina almost toying
with the French, aren't they?

[commentator 1] In this game, France
have yet to have an attempt on goal.

- Di María away from Koundé.
- [whistle blows]

He's gone to ground. He's got a penalty.

[crowd cheers]

[commentator 1]
Dembélé had a little flick.

[no audible dialogue]

[commentator 1]
Lionel Messi, goal in the last 16.

Penalty in the quarterfinal,
penalty in the semifinal.

[commentator 1] Messi and the world.

- [whistle blows]
- A breath, a heartbeat...

And Messi!

A goal forevermore!
Perhaps his moment for infinity!

[Messi, in Spanish]
It was very reassuring to take the lead

and manage the match how we wanted to.

[commentator 3]
Well, they deserve it, don't they?

By far the better team so far.

[Martínez] It was the best first half
we've done in the World Cup.

We were so comfortable on the ball.

I remember my ears were beeping.

It was the loudest time
I've heard that stadium.

[commentator 1]
France have not come to the party yet.

[Fernández]
Getting that first goal is very important

to help manage time and the match.

[De Paul] It's like starting off
on the right foot, no?

It was like,
now that's what I call a good start.

[commentator 3, in English]
It's so one-sided so far.

[Edul] Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández
and De Paul were running the ball.

They couldn't take it away from them.

The defense was firm.
Messi was seeing a lot of action.

And that's where, in my opinion,
the best goal of the year was made.

[commentator 1, in English] That's a fire
he put out before it began to rage.

- Messi...
- [commentator 2] Oh, lovely.

[commentator 1] Delightful. Álvarez.

- Here's Mac Allister.
- [crowd cheers]

[commentator 1] Di María is the spare man.

Ángel Di María-- Glorious goal!

[commentator 1] Argentine gold!

That is just beautiful!

[commentator 4, in Spanish]
Fabulous team play!

Extraordinary character!

All of them are princes of the desert.

Argentina leads France, 2-0.

[Bennett, in English] That goal was
less a collection of passes

and more a constellation being created
before the world's eyes in real time.

And it was a joyous collective statement,

an Argentinian constellation.

[Di María] The passes, the few touches
it took us from one goal to the other,

the connection between each player...

I think it represented what we had been
showing and experiencing

throughout the World Cup

and what we were experiencing
during that final.

[Fernández] For me,
that goal was the best of the World Cup.

To be there watching it live
was beautiful.

The truth is it's a wonderful goal
that will live forever in time.

[Messi] I felt so much joy in that moment.

Di María and I had been
through so much together.

And it was one of the most beautiful goals
to be part of.

Oh, it was amazing.

[commentator 2, in English]
They've just been too much for France.

The French can't cope with it.

[whistles blows]

[commentator 1] Halftime.
And Argentina are halfway there.

The first half, I have not seen one final

where a team outplayed the other finalist
so badly as Argentina did against France,

the defending world champion.

[in Spanish]
The team felt very calm and confident.

[Keane, in English]
Argentina have been fantastic,

but the French,
they're losing every battle.

They've been sloppy in possession.

[in French]
Obviously, France is in grave danger.

We've been devoured
since the start of the match.

I've rarely seen a French national team

as poor in their play.
And without putting up a fight.

[in English] And on top of all that,
the French superstars,

the one or two we were speaking about,
have not turned up yet.

[Mbappé, in French] It's a World Cup
final. It's the match of a lifetime.

We can't play any worse than we just did.

When we get back on the pitch,
we either let them fool around

or we step up our game
and try something different.

It's a World Cup final.

[Bennett, in English]
Kylian Mbappé in the locker room,

was trying to get the defibrillators out
to bring them back to life.

But that didn't matter,
because we were 45 minutes away

from an ending that Argentina needed,
that Lionel Messi needed,

but at that time, the world needed.

[whistle blows]

[commentator 1] And if history is
on Argentine shoulders,

it would be on the broad shoulders
of Lionel Messi.

[in Spanish] We went into the second half
trying to play the same way

and following the same path.

[commentator 1] Di María.

[in English] Forcing Koundé back.
Tying him in knots.

Di María, allowed to run!

[commentator 2]
Certainly no sign of Argentina

loosening their grip on this match.

[in Spanish]
In the second half, I felt really relaxed.

It never crossed my mind
that we wouldn't win.

[commentator 1, in English]
France, extraordinarily,

have yet to touch the ball
in Argentina's penalty area.

[commentator 2] Energy levels for France
have definitely been a problem.

[Martínez] They were completely tired.
They were missing silly passes.

They were-- They were gone.
We just needed to k*ll the game, you know.

[commentator 2] If ever France needed
something from Kylian Mbappé, it's now.

[Bennett] It was astonishing.
Like, Kylian Mbappé had been subdued.

He'd been a dead man walking.
He was finished.

He was a minor detail.

[commentator 1]
Mbappé countering a bit now.

Driving through! And firing high...

[commentator 2] Kylian Mbappé's
body language is really telling right now.

[fans chanting]

[Valdano, in Spanish] As an Argentinian,
I experienced it with a lot of emotion,

a lot of tension.

I drove the people next to me crazy
with a single phrase.

"It can't be this easy. This is a final.
It can't be this easy."

[commentator 1, in English] Over the top
by Mbappé, chased by Kolo Muani.

And Kolo Muani's gone into the box.
He's got a penalty!

He's got a way back for France!

[Edul, in Spanish]
With 15 minutes to go, penalty.

And then the quote-unquote "villain"
appears.

The villain, Kylian Mbappé.
An extraordinary player.

He hadn't touched a ball the whole match.

[commentator 2, in English] And France?

Well, they've got a squeak of a chance
if they convert this one!

[in Spanish] I don't know who
the screenwriter of Messi's life story is,

but they're a genius.

Because the second half
became a nightmare.

[crowd cheering, shouting]

[commentator 1, in English]
France just might!

Mbappé, with thrust!

A superstar re-enlivened!

[Martínez] When Mbappé scored,
all of a sudden, they had new legs.

And that changed everything.

[commentator 1] Out by Otamendi.

These ten minutes
will last a lifetime for Argentina.

[in Spanish] He is a very skilled player.
He is very fast.

He has a powerful shot
and is excellent in one-on-one situations.

We knew that if we allowed him
too much room, he could cause some damage.

[commentator 1, in English] Messi...

- [crowd reacts]
- [commentator 1] Can't keep it from Coman.

And Coman can go the other way.

[commentator 1] Rabiot.

Mbappé. Thuram.

Mbappé! Oh, wow!

[crowd cheers]

[commentator 1]
He is an awesome force of nature!

[commentator 2] Ninety-seven seconds
between Mbappé's penalty

and his ferocious volley.

[in Spanish]
There wasn't even time to breathe.

The second goal came immediately.

[commentator 1, in English]
Brutal! And brilliant!

It's two each in the World Cup final!

[in Spanish] This can't be happening.
We were just winning 2-0,

and now we're tied 2-2. It was tough.

It was a bucket of cold water for us.

[commentator 1, in English] It was
going to be Messi's World Cup final.

But Mbappé ripped up that script.

[Messi, in Spanish] I know Mbappé well.
And I know how dangerous he can be.

That second goal was devastating.

It was a match very similar
to the one against the Netherlands.

A match where we were superior
for 80 minutes.

We couldn't believe that we were
going through the same situation again.

But it happened.

[whistle blows]

We couldn't think about
what had just happened,

and had to focus on extra time.

[commentator 1, in English]
It's Argentina, 2. France, 2.

And extra time follows.

[Fernández, in Spanish]
Extra time was still remaining.

And we knew it depended
solely and exclusively on us.

[Cantor]
The French team is going to start.

And here we go, ladies and gentlemen!
Two periods of 15 minutes.

And if that's not enough, penalties.

[Lineker, in English]
I'm not a fan of extra time.

They're nearly always really dull affairs
where both teams are so tired.

No one wants to make a mistake
that leads to their team losing,

and you end up with a penalty sh**t-out
half an hour later anyway.

But-- But this, this extra time

was the most extraordinary 30 minutes
of any game I think I can ever remember.

[commentator 1] Leo Messi. Mac Allister.

Messi. Martínez! What a block!

Montiel!

[commentator 2] Argentina coming to life.

[in Spanish] We kept going and going,
because we had the extra time.

And we continued to try and win the game.

That's the kind of confidence we had.

That we wanted to win the final
before getting to penalties.

[commentator 1, in English] Montiel.

Lautaro Martínez. Lionel Messi. Fernández!

Martínez! Messi!

[fans cheering]

[commentator 1] The little magic man
from right on the line!

[commentator 2]
One of the most precious goals,

perhaps the most precious,
he will ever score.

[Messi, in Spanish]
I think we showed a lot of character,

and the team rose again.

We took the lead and were 3-2,
and in that moment,

we thought the match was over
because there was no time left.

[commentator 2, in English]
Argentina, 3. France, 2.

Ten minutes to go.

[Sofi, in Spanish]
Argentina was winning 3-2 in extra time.

That's it. What more can happen?

What a mistake, right? [chuckles]

[commentator 1, in English] Thuram.

- [fans cheer]
- [commentator 1] Corner.

- Clinging with all they have...
- [whistle blows]

...to what they have.

In by Coman.

- Out to Mbappé--
- [commentator 2] Oh, handball?

[commentator 1] Shout for handball!

He hasn't, has he?

- He has!
- [commentator 2] It's in.

[commentator 1]
It has hit Montiel on the arm.

And the referee has awarded a penalty

in the 117th minute.

[in Spanish] And, incredibly, after that,

when the game was about to end,

there was a weird play.

A penalty occurs. They call a penalty
over Montiel's handball.

[commentator 1, in English]
Moments remain of an epic World Cup final.

[crowd cheering]

[commentator 1]
Kylian Mbappé is on a hat trick.

- [whistle blows]
- [commentator 1] Mbappé...

[crowd reacts]

[commentator 1] Into the galaxy of greats!

And France, alive again!

[in Spanish] And they tied us again
at the very last second

because the match was already over.

And well, it was a devastating blow.

[Sofi] How difficult, isn't it?
Why do we always have to suffer?

Do we always have to suffer
until the last minute?

But is this the end of the story?

No way.

[commentator 1, in English]
Time yet perhaps for another goal?

[in Spanish] And then here comes
one of the heroes that Messi needed

to be champion.

That is Dibu Martínez.

[commentator 1, in English] France drive.

Forward by Konaté. Kolo Muani!

What a stop! What a stop by Martínez!

[Fernández, in Spanish] In that moment,
you don't say, "Wow, what a save!"

But afterwards, when you see it
in a replay, you think, "That's crazy!"

How crazy that he made that save

with only one minute left in the game.

[Bennett, in English] In that second,
when his nation had called upon him,

just muscle memory.

I mean, you think of Michael Jordan's
Jumpman. This was Dibu's Jumpman.

[whistle blows]

[commentator 1, in English]
What can you say but thank you

for, surely, one of the greatest
football matches that's ever been played.

Argentina, 3. France, 3. Penalties.

[Messi, in Spanish]
I couldn't believe that this match,

which had started off so well for us,
had taken such an unexpected turn.

We were so close,
yet still so far away from our goal.

But-- Well, this is soccer
and anything can happen.

[Bennett, in English] Both teams had
experienced every single human emotion.

They both touched the heavens,
they both stared into the abyss.

And it needs to be said, penalties
are one of the most sadistic ways

to end a football game.

[Fernández, in Spanish]
Yes, it's very nerve-racking.

It's a moment of great tension.

It's absolute silence
throughout the stadium.

[Di María] You always say,
"Hopefully luck is on our side."

But then it's penalties,
and anything can happen.

My blood pressure was dropping.

I was having a really rough time.

[commentator 1, in English]
Well, Emi Martínez has been a hero

in these circumstances once already.

[De Paul] It's always said that
the first team to kick has the advantage.

Because if you score,
you're always winning

and the pressure falls on your rival.

[commentator 1, in English] This time,
having twice already scored from this spot

and three times in all having scored...

- [whistle blows]
- [commentator 1] ...Mbappé steps up first.

And Mbappé rattles it in!

[commentator 2] Interesting
that the two top men are going first.

[Messi, in Spanish] At that moment,

I felt like there was more
than a trophy at stake

and this was my last chance.

I just had to stay calm, focus,
and do what I needed to do.

[commentator 1, in English]
Messi, with such immaculate poise!

[Messi, in Spanish] Going out to the field
and seeing the whole stadium

filled with Argentinians gives you
a lot of strength and a big desire to win.

And at the same time,
it helps it feel like a home match.

In that moment, I felt a lot of love
for the Argentinian people.

So when Leo scored,
you had that joy of saying,

"Now the pressure is on them to score.
They have no option but to score."

[commentator 1, in English]
Next up is Kingsley Coman.

[Martínez]
I didn't practice many penalties before.

You know, not even the day before,

because you can't recreate 80,000 fans
after playing 120 minutes.

[whistle blows]

[commentator 1] Coman.

- [crowd reacts]
- [commentator 1] Great stop!

Martínez is punching the air again!

[Fernández, in Spanish]
Oh, it was incredible. Incredible.

Once again, the magical hand
of Dibu showed up.

[no audible dialogue]

[commentator 1, in English]
Well, for Argentina,

Paulo Dybala came off the bench...

[whistle blows]

...with this kick of the ball in mind.

Dybala down the middle!

Martínez is trying to get in his head.

He hasn't helped
with the return of the ball.

He will do what it takes.

[no audible dialogue]

[Allende, in Spanish] When the rival team
was about to kick a penalty,

we'd put our hands like this

because as a little girl,
someone taught me

that this is how you send them bad vibes

so that they don't achieve
what they set out to do.

- [fan] sh*t!
- [Allende] No, no, no, no, no!

[crowd cheering]

[commentator 1, in English]
Tchouaméni has dragged it wide!

And Argentina are on the cusp!

If you have a goalkeeper that says,
"Guys, I'm gonna save two."

He doesn't say, "I'll save one."
He says, "I'll save two."

That gives you tranquility.

It gives off willpower and desire.

It's amazing.

[commentator 1, in English]
Paredes to take Argentina to match point.

[commentator 3]
Paredes does exactly what he had to do!

And one way or the other,
Argentina are one kick away!

[commentator 1]
And France's margin for error is now zero.

He must! He has.

A long, lonely walk for Gonzalo Montiel.

Didn't start the game. He can finish it.

[heartbeat thumping]

[crowd reacts]

[commentator 1]
Argentina, champions of the world!

["Baba O'Riley" plays]

[commentator 1] Again, at last!

Here, finally...

is a nation's new throng of immortals!

[Scaloni, in Spanish]
It's a feeling that's hard to explain.

Because it can only be felt.

It's a unique moment.

Nothing compares with that moment.
It's absolutely priceless.

[commentator 2, in English]
Incredible scenes here.

[Fernández, in Spanish]
It was a lot of joy realizing

we had accomplished a world title.

To be part
of Argentinian soccer's history,

for a player, it's beautiful.
You always dream of these moments.

[commentator 1, in English]
The greatest player of his age

finally has the greatest accolade
football can afford him.

["Baba O'Riley" continues playing]

[Martínez] He said to us, "Thank you
for making your dream come true,

winning the World Cup."

And I just said to him,
"You made mine, you know.

Because you were the one who made us win."

[crowd cheering]

I think we just witnessed
the greatest game

- in history.
- In the history of football.

With the greatest soccer player
in history.

Tears-- The tears of everyone here.
We deserved it.

We've waited for so long.

Sorry.

["Baba O'Riley" continues playing]

[De Paul, in Spanish]
I believe that somewhere out there,

people are realizing
that after so many years

of him making everyone else happy,

it was time for him
to be as happy as he deserved.

For me, playing with you on a team
is what I wanted, man.

And winning it, winning this trophy
with you, I know that it's...

[Di María]
It became more about him than about me.

I wanted to win the World Cup for him.

Without a doubt, for me,
he is the greatest in history.

So I feel good knowing that I did my bit

to help him win the World Cup.

[fans chanting]

Well, here we are.
It's almost three in the morning.

I'm packing my suitcase,
preparing to return to Argentina.

It was an impressive month,

which I lived intensely
and I enjoyed very much.

And obviously, to end it all this way,
being world champions,

it's something... something incredible.

When we got here,
we started off the wrong way.

It was a hard blow.

But still, that made us stronger.

And we were confident
that we would succeed

and overcome that blow.

And that's how it went.
That's how it went.

It was a beautiful experience
we went through with all of you.

And for all of you
to be a part of that too,

and to get a glimpse of what it's about.

It's great.

Anyway, I really want this flight
to go by quickly,

to be in Argentina
and just enjoy everything

that we'll experience there.

[players laughing, chattering]

I love the Argentine national team.

And becoming the world champion was
my greatest dream.

- [chuckles]
- [player chuckles, chatters]

To have spent my entire career
seeking this

and having experienced
many disappointments...

To end it this way, it's incredible.
It's all incredible.

[Martínez, in English] We got there
about 4 a.m. We were knackered.

We had probably 200,000 fans camping
outside the airport, waiting for us.

Crying on the streets,
waiting for us to wave.

And we didn't know how much happiness
we gave to those people

until we went there.

[in Spanish] Messi waved at me!
He looked at me and waved at me.

This is the greatest thing
I've experienced in my life, up until now.

And I love Messi. I love Argentina.

- And, let's go!
- [fans cheering]

[Messi] I never imagined
such a crazy celebration like that.

With the enormous amount of people
in the streets of Argentina,

in all the cities, in the entire country.

It was truly astounding.

We made 50 million Argentinians happy.

And it's a memory
that will stay with us forever.

And it's an unforgettable moment
for us all.

[Sofi] There is an entire generation
that did not know

what it's like to be world champions

and now suddenly experienced
this great happiness.

And you may say,
does soccer change your life forever?

A World Cup final? A World Cup
can change your life forever?

Yes.

I swear it does.

[Valdano]
The passion, the desire, the faith.

All of that mixed together ends up making...

ends up making Leo's story exemplary.

[children shouting]

[Arévalo] Messi is the kid from Rosario

who put the Argentine flag back on top.

He made a whole country smile again.

[Messi] I never imagined that my career
would turn out the way it did.

And that it would end like this.

After all,

I'm just a kid from Rosario
who loves to play ball.

[fans cheering]