France’s captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris lifted the World Cup as cannons shot golden confetti high in the air and a wall of fans waving tricolour flags exploded with joy after a final befitting a thrilling tournament.
The sky above Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium was dark grey with flashes of thunder as the French team, soaked in rain, sweat and euphoria, darted around the pitch in dizzy delight when the whistle blew on a 4-2 victory.
The winners’ medals were presented by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, underneath a black umbrella as an almighty downpour pierced a sticky, humid afternoon in the Russian capital.
Proceedings had temporarily been brought to a halt in the second half as four people wearing black trousers, black ties and white shirts emerged from behind Lloris and ran onto the pitch.
Stewards wearing high-visibility jackets gave chase as Croatia defender Dejan Lovren attempted to drag one from the pitch himself. The Russian protest performance group Pussy Riot later claimed responsibility. “Right now, there are four members of Pussy Riot on the pitch,” the group wrote on its Facebook page.
It was the first high-profile breach of security at a World Cup that has been notable for stunning football matches, vibrant bands of fans particularly from the south and central America and domestically, England’s unexpected, rousing run to the semi-final.
Political tensions and hooligan problems, which some feared would overshadow football’s showpiece, never materialised in a tournament that will be chalked up as a major success.
Croatia, whose players hailed from a nation of just four million, had beaten England in the semi-final and will point to a controversial refereeing decision in the first half as the moment their chances evaporated.
France, led by coach Didier Deschamps, rarely put a foot wrong during the tournament. At the start of the afternoon they were hot favourites to win the World Cup for a second time after lifting the trophy at home in 1998.
Will Smith added a touch of glamour to the occasion as he performed the official World Cup anthem Live It Up with Nicky Jam and Kosovar Albanian pop star Era Istrefi. Brazilian footballing legend Ronaldinho was cheered loudly as he played drums with local performers.
There were raised eyebrows when the World Cup trophy flanked by German player Philipp Lahm, who lifted the World Cup four years ago, and Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova arrived in its new Louis Vuitton travel case. In Fifa-land, everything has a price, it seems.
In the VIP box Putin took his seat next to Fifa president Gianni Infantino with French president Emmanuel Macron and Croatia’s president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović nearby.
After 18 minutes, Croatia’s Mario Mandžukić earned himself an unwanted place in football history with the first own goal scored in a World Cup final. The France players huddled together near the corner flag in celebration.