Football icon Lionel Messi has penned a heartfelt note on his Instagram after his Argentina became the world champions for the third time beating France in a penalty shootout 4-2 in the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday.

In a long post, Messi, who waited years to lift the trophy, wrote, "World Champions! I dreamed it so many times, I wanted it so much that I still haven't fallen, I can't believe it. Thank you very much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us. We demonstrate once again that Argentines when we fight together and united we are capable of achieving what we set out to do.

"The merit belongs to this group, which is above individualities, it is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the dream of all Argentines... We did it! Go Argentina! we are seeing each other very soon."

Messi, who is the captain of the Argentina squad and became the best player award, netted seven goals in seven games and became the first player to score in each round of the same World Cup ever since the last-16 round was introduced in the signature football event in 1986.

Messi had also won the same award in 2014.