Gabriel Batistuta BURSTS into tears of joy as Argentina win the World Cup

Nicky Butt 'is cautioned by police as ex-Man United star is revealed as the man who headbutted a security guard after being spotted urinating against a wall at his 50th birthday party'
Lewis Hamilton is blasted as 'f***ing dangerous' by F1 star during Saudi Arabian GP as Ferrari driver learns fate after investigation into incident
Jurgen Klopp's agent responds to Real Madrid and Brazil links just days after reports ex-Liverpool boss is 'unhappy and worn out' with new Red Bull role
The inside story of why Virgil van Dijk signed his new Liverpool contract: Premier League rivals who wanted to sign him this summer NAMED and the moments that sealed a 'not easy' deal
Liverpool boss Arne Slot REJECTS claims Darwin Nunez was involved in training ground bust-up after under-fire star was dropped for West Ham win
Gary Lineker reveals which 'underrated' Match of the Day pundit he will miss the most as he prepares to quit the show after 26-year stint
Rory McIlroy pictured arriving in Belfast as Masters champion steps off $70million private jet after travelling with daughter Poppy following Augusta triumph
Man City frontrunners to sign Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of rivals, while another star is their 'dream' recruit as club plot summer rebuild
Man United and Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres provides fresh update on future amid reports he could leave Sporting for £60m this summer
Can Tottenham claim a trophy in an otherwise disappointing season? Spurs are 13/8 favourites with Sky Bet to win the Europa League
Max Verstappen is the wrong driver for Mercedes and has 'a lot of downsides' that could change team's culture, claims Williams boss James Vowles
Paul Scholes sparks concern over his appearance during TV punditry gig for Man United's win over Lyon
MARTIN KEOWN: It was a tactical masterclass from Mikel Arteta - here are the five ways he got the better of Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid to guide Arsenal to a famous Champions League win
F1 Confidential: It would be beyond betrayal for Mercedes to ditch George Russell... even given the uncertainty around the future of Max Verstappen at Red Bull
Pep Guardiola aims thinly-veiled dig at Man United's poor season - as Man City boss insists fighting for a Champions League place isn't a 'bad thing'
PLAY TEAMSHEET: Can YOU name the Everton side that beat Man City in January 2012? Or pick YOUR team and guess their starting XI
Inside David Moyes' first 100 days back at Everton: Shutting down the negativity, the role of club legend Leighton Baines and secret scouting missions to identify the club's next stars
Revealed: How close Man United really came to signing 'genius' French wonderkid Rayan Cherki when he was 15 - and the signs that suggest he will leave Lyon this summer with United and Liverpool in pursuit
Harry Maguire deserves his hero status... but some Man United stars don't realise how lucky they are: GRAEME SOUNESS
Millwall keeper Liam Roberts withdrawn from Player of the Season vote a month after horror challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta to 'avoid further horrific online abuse' - as Lions fans claim he was set to win club award
Who will win the 2024-25 NBA Championship? Sky Bet odds revealed as the Playoffs get underway this weekend
Joshua Zirkzee aims savage dig at Man United fans for leaving Old Trafford early after Red Devils pulled off crazy comeback win over Lyon to reach Europa League semi-finals
Joe Thompson dead at 36: Man United lead tributes to ex-academy starlet after he was diagnosed with cancer for the third time last year
Rory McIlroy's wife Erica Stoll pays tribute to Melania Trump as both women suffer affair rumors

Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties to win the Qatar World Cup on Sunday
Gabriel Batistuta broke down in tears of joy while working as a TV pundit in Qatar
Lionel Messi overtook Batistuta as Argentina's top scorer at the World Cup finals
Click HERE for the latest news and updates after Argentina's World Cup triumph

Published: 12:17 EDT, 19 December 2022 | Updated: 13:19 EDT, 19 December 2022

e-mail

Gabriel Batistuta could not hold back the tears after Argentina's World Cup final triumph in Qatar on Sunday, as his country beat France 4-2 on penalties to lift the illustrious trophy.

Lionel Messi, who overtook Batistuta as Argentina's highest ever goal-scorer at World Cup finals against Croatia in the semi-finals, netted the opener from the penalty spot before Angel di Maria extended the lead to two ahead of half time.

Despite their lethargic performance in the first 80 minutes, France scored a quickfire double through Kylian Mbappe to level the scoreboard late on, forcing the enthralling final into extra time.

Gabriel Batistuta could not hold back the tears after Argentina's World Cup triumph on Sunday

Soon after Messi bagged his second of the match in extra-time - which was his 13th goal at World Cup finals - Mbappe completed his hat-trick for France in the 118th minute, taking the 3-3 thriller to penalties.

As Gonzalo Montiel scored the decisive spot-kick to win the World Cup, Batistuta - who was working as a television pundit for Qatari channel beIN Sports - broke down in tears as he struggled to contain his emotions.

'It's impressive,' Batistuta let out softly. 'Vamos Argentina.

Superstar Lionel Messi lifted the trophy after Argentina's 4-2 win against France on penalties

'I am happy for Messi, for Argentina, for the whole country. I can't even talk. Everyone wanted Argentina to win and you could feel the energy. Sorry, I'm emotional.'

Argentina's last World Cup success came in 1986, when Diego Maradona marshalled the country to victory in Mexico.

Fellow Argentine and BBC pundit Pablo Zabaleta was also in tears following his nation's World Cup triumph, having been a one-year-old the last time his country lifted the trophy.