Argentina's victory cemented their status among the sport's greatest international sides. Brazil leads all nations with five World Cup titles, while Germany and Italy share second place with four each. Argentina now stands alone in fourth place with three stars on their crest, breaking a tie with Uruguay and France.
The win carried massive personal significance for Messi. Having lost the 2014 final to Germany in Rio de Janeiro, the Argentine captain finally secured the one honor that had eluded his career. Awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's most outstanding player, Messi became the first player in history to win the accolade twice, having also captured it in 2014.
Emiliano Martínez claimed the Golden Glove after saving spot-kicks against both the Netherlands in the quarterfinals and France in the final. Enzo Fernández took home the Young Player Award, completing an individual sweep for the South American champions. Mbappé collected the Golden Boot with eight tournament goals, joining Brazil's Ronaldo (2002) as the only players in modern history to hit that mark at a single World Cup.
