Lionel Messi rounded off a night of celebration with his 800th professional goal as Argentina beat Panama 2-0 in their first match since winning the World Cup.

Messi, 35, claimed his 99th international goal from a free-kick after 89 minutes, sending the 83,000 fans at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires into raptures.

Substitute Thiago Almada had grabbed the opener 11 minutes earlier after a Messi free-kick had come back off the post.

Manager Lionel Scaloni named the same starting line-up as the World Cup final with the entire squad from Qatar posing for pictures in front of a replica trophy before kick-off.

But they were made to wait for the breakthrough as Panama goalkeeper Josec Guerra produced several saves and the defence fought valiantly to keep out the World Cup champions.

“I always dreamed of this moment, to celebrate with you in my country Argentina, lifting the greatest thing that is the World Cup,” Messi said at a post-match ceremony organised by the Argentine FA to celebrate the country’s third World Cup title and first in 36 years.

“Let’s keep doing what we are doing and enjoy this, because we have been waiting a long time to win it again. Let’s enjoy the third star.”

A tearful Scaloni added: “Eternal gratitude to these players. Football belongs to them, and without them we wouldn’t have won the World Cup.

“Everyone who wears this shirt gives their all and sometimes the results don’t come. But this time we got it and it’s incredible,” said the coach before a victory lap of players and families reminiscent of the one his team did 95 days ago at the Lusail Stadium.

Argentina face Curacao on Tuesday to round off a week which has seen Messi widely celebrated as a hero.

The French FA has made a complaint against Emiliano Martinez following his antics in the aftermath of Argentina’s World Cup final win over France.

Martinez was a key figure in Argentina’s penalty shootout win over France and has since been spotted carrying a doll with Mbappe’s face taped to it during the victory celebrations in Buenos Aires. He even called for a mock minute’s silence for Mbappe in the dressing room after the final in Qatar

It has led to French FA president Noel Le Graet revealing he has written to his Argentinian counterpart Claudio Tapia, urging the Argentina FA to take action against the World Cup-winning goalkeeper.

“We have launched different procedures,” Le Graet told Ouest-France. “It is very shocking.

“These are boys who have given the best of themselves for the France team to succeed. It is important that we support them.

“I wrote to my counterpart from the Argentine Football Association. I find these excesses abnormal in the context of a sports competition, and I find it difficult to understand.

“It goes too far. Mbappe’s behaviour was exemplary.”

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira, a World Cup winner with France in 1998, has described Martinez as “stupid” and believes he tainted Argentina’s success.

Vieira said: “When you are talking about the abuse and the comments that he received after the World Cup, I think that is damaging the game and himself.

“Some of the pictures that I saw from the Argentina goalkeeper took away a little bit from what Argentina achieved at the World Cup. I don’t think that they really needed that.

“You can’t control sometimes people’s emotions or decisions, but that was a stupid decision from Martinez to do that”.

Emery: I’ll speak to Martinez about his WC celebrations

Meanwhile, Unai Emery says he’s so proud of Aston Villa’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Martinez, but says he’s due a chat with the Argentine about his celebrating.

Martinez has received plenty of criticism for his actions in Qatar despite helping Argentina win their first World Cup since 1986.

“When you have a big emotion, sometimes it’s difficult to control it,” Emery said.

“I will speak to him next week about some of the celebrations but I respect it for now because he’s with his national team.

“When he’s back with us we can speak about it.”

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The French FA has made a complaint against Emiliano Martinez following his antics in the aftermath of Argentina’s World Cup final win over France.

Martinez was a key figure in Argentina’s penalty shootout win over France and has since been spotted carrying a doll with Mbappe’s face taped to it during the victory celebrations in Buenos Aires. He even called for a mock minute’s silence for Mbappe in the dressing room after the final in Qatar

It has led to French FA president Noel Le Graet revealing he has written to his Argentinian counterpart Claudio Tapia, urging the Argentina FA to take action against the World Cup-winning goalkeeper.

“We have launched different procedures,” Le Graet told Ouest-France. “It is very shocking.

“These are boys who have given the best of themselves for the France team to succeed. It is important that we support them.

“I wrote to my counterpart from the Argentine Football Association. I find these excesses abnormal in the context of a sports competition, and I find it difficult to understand.

“It goes too far. Mbappe’s behaviour was exemplary.”

Emery: I’ll speak to Martinez about his WC celebrations

Meanwhile, Unai Emery says he’s so proud of Aston Villa’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Martinez, but says he’s due a chat with the Argentine about his celebrating.

Martinez has received plenty of criticism for his actions in Qatar despite helping Argentina win their first World Cup since 1986.

“When you have a big emotion, sometimes it’s difficult to control it,” Emery said.

“I will speak to him next week about some of the celebrations but I respect it for now because he’s with his national team.

“When he’s back with us we can speak about it.”

FIFA is investigating the circumstances which led to ‘Salt Bae’ gatecrashing Argentina’s World Cup celebrations in Qatar on Sunday.

The celebrity restaurant owner, whose real name is Nusret Gokce, was seen on the pitch after the final trying to take selfies with Argentina players, including Lionel Messi, and holding the World Cup.

FIFA has told Sky Sports News his access to the pitch was unauthorised and its rules state that only the World Cup winners and heads of state are allowed to touch the trophy during the closing ceremony.

A spokesperson for FIFA said: “Following a review, FIFA has been establishing how individuals gained undue access to the pitch after the closing ceremony at Lusail stadium on 18 December. The appropriate internal action will be taken.”

It is understood that Salt Bae has no involvement with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has previously been pictured visiting one of his restaurants. It is also believed there is no commercial relationship between FIFA and Salt Bae.

Salt Bae was one of Infantino’s 303 Instagram followers at 6pm on Thursday, but as of 7.15pm on Thursday has been unfollowed.

The Turkish celebrity chef has become known by the pseudonym Salt Bae since rising to fame on social media for his unique style of seasoning steaks.

Now a host to the stars at his restaurants, Salt Bae’s presence among the celebrating Argentina players caused a storm on social media with the new world champions appearing to be apathetic to his involvement.

Messi was pictured appearing to try to get away after the celebrity chef grabbed his arm, while Lisandro Martinez looked less than delighted to be pictured alongside him holding the World Cup trophy.

A compilation video on Twitter of nonplussed players alongside Gokce has racked up more than 14 million views since it was posted on Monday afternoon.