Paul Pogba's Gesture To Lionel Messi At Full Time Was Classy

Posted Sunday, July 01, 2018 by sportbible.com

France finally put Argentina out of their World Cup misery by knocking them out with a 4-3 win in the first match of the knockout stages but Paul Pogba still had time to console Lionel Messi.

Argentina were extremely lucky to get into the knockout stages of the World Cup and for a brief spell actually looked like they were going to improve enough to make it through to the quarter final stage.

After a terrible start to the game they got themselves level with France before half time and then within the first 10 minutes of the second half found themselves 2-1 up and dreaming.

However France came back firing and in the end were 4-3 winners with Sergio Aguero's header merely a consolation as the 1986 winners crashed out after just four games.

The loss meant that Lionel Messi was once again left without a trophy on the international stage as he wasn't able to affect the game to the degree he'd usually want.

At the end of the game like most of his teammates the Barcelona forward was left distraught but he was met by a comforting hug from Paul Pogba in a very classy move from the Frenchman:

Pogba had a brilliant game, controlling the midfield, and nearly set up Kylian Mbappe with a glorious long range free kick in the first half. His lofted ball from deep inside his own half was met by Mbappe running on but he was chopped down on the edge of the box.

The conversation about Messi going out of another tournament will rage on but he says goodbye to this tournament with at least an embrace and mark of respect from Pogba.