DOHA - The World Cup in Qatar ended with Argentina's victory over France in a showdown between superstars Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the final.

Here is our pick of the best moments from the knockout stage.

Final

Argentina's Lionel Messi (R) and France's Kylian Mbappe vie for the ball during the second half of the World Cup football final at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 18, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Argentina's Lionel Messi scores goal from the penalty spot during the first half of the World Cup football final against Frnace at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 18, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
France's Kylian Mbappe (L) scores an equalizer during the second half of the World Cup football final against Argentina at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 18, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saves a shot from France's Kingsley Coman (20) during a penalty shootout in the World Cup football final at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 18, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Argentina players (L) celebrate after a penalty shootout win over France in the World Cup football final at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 18, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Argentina players celebrate after winning the World Cup football final against France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 18, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Semifinals

Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) scores a first-half penalty, sending the ball past Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic into the upper right corner, during a World Cup semifinal football match at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 13, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Croatia's Mateo Kovacic (C) tries to dribble past two Argentina players during the first half of a World Cup semifinal football match at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 13, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Lionel Messi raises his fists after providing the assist for Argentina's third goal against Croatia during a World Cup semifinal football match at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 13, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi (C) attempts a shot on goal during the first half of a World Cup semifinal football match against France at Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Dec. 14, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Substitute Randal Kolo Muani (C) scores France's second goal against Morocco during the second half of a World Cup semifinal football match at Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Dec. 14, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Multiple players vie for the ball in the air as France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (orange) tries to punch it clear during the first half of a World Cup semifinal football match against Morocco at Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Dec. 14, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
France's Kylian Mbappe (facing camera) hugs Morocco's Achraf Hakimi, his Paris Saint-Germain club mate, following the European team's 2-0 football World Cup semifinal win at Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Dec. 14, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Quarterfinals

Croatia's Luka Modric (10) controls the ball during the first half of a World Cup quarterfinal football match against Brazil at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Dec. 9, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Brazil's Neymar (top) jumps for joy after scoring the opening goal in the first half of extra time in a World Cup quarterfinal football match against Croatia at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Dec. 9, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Neymar (10) covers his face with a hand after Brazil lost to Croatia on penalties in a World Cup quarterfinal football match at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Dec. 9, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Croatia players celebrate after beating Brazil on penalties in a World Cup quarterfinal football match at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Dec. 9, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (1) makes a save during the second half of a World Cup quarterfinal football match against Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (white) jumps for the ball during the second half of a World Cup quarterfinal football match against Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (L) looks downcast after a 1-0 loss to Morocco in a World Cup quarterfinal football match at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Morocco players celebrate after beating Portugal 1-0 in a World Cup quarterfinal football match at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
The Netherlands' Wout Weghorst (19) scores an equalizer during the second half of a World Cup quarterfinal football match against Argentina at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 9, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saves a shot from the Netherlands' Virgil van Dijk during a penalty shootout in a World Cup quarterfinal football match at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, in the small hours of Dec. 10, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Olivier Giroud (9) of France scores a header in the second half of a World Cup quarterfinal football match against England at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Harry Kane of England (front) scores from the penalty spot in the second half of a World Cup quarterfinal football match against France at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Round of 16

Photographers aim their cameras at Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo (3rd from R) as he starts on the bench in a World Cup round of 16 football match against Switzerland at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 6, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Harry Kane (9) celebrates after scoring England's second goal against Senegal just before the break in a World Cup round of 16 football match at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Dec. 4, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
England players line up to form a defensive wall as Senegal's Bamba Dieng (20) takes a free kick in the second half of a World Cup round of 16 football match at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Dec. 4, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Morocco players give head coach Walid Regragui a victory toss after a penalty shootout win over Spain in a World Cup round of 16 football match at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Dec. 6, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Ivan Perisic (R) of Croatia scores an equalizer with a header during the second half of a World Cup round of 16 football match against Japan at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 5, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Maya Yoshida is pictured ahead of Japan's fourth spot kick during a penalty shootout in a World Cup round of 16 football match against Croatia at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 5, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan players look dejected after a 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to Croatia in a World Cup round of 16 football match at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 5, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Denzel Dumfries (L) of the Netherlands scores his side's third goal during the second half of a World Cup round of 16 football match against the United States at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Dec. 3, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Kylian Mbappe (10) of France scores the team's second goal in a World Cup round of 16 football match against Poland at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Dec. 4, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Australia supporters cheer ahead of a World Cup round of 16 football match between Argentina and Australia at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Dec. 3, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Switzerland's Breel Embolo (R) attempts an overhead kick in a World Cup round of 16 football match against Portugal at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 6, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Rafael Leao (C) scores the sixth goal for Portugal during the second half of a World Cup round of 16 football match against Switzerland at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 6, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
 
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon watches as a penalty by Morocco's Achraf Hakimi (L) hits the back of the net during a shootout to decide a World Cup round of 16 football match at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Dec. 6, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo