Today's best photos: from the World Cup final to Santas on gondolas in Venice

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

Argentina fans celebrate in a bar in Madrid, Spain during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France in Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo / Andrea Comas)

The US Capitol behind a vigil honouring Iranians killed by their government at the National Mall in Washington. AP

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson celebrates his touchdown pass in a 13-3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Cleveland. AP

Firefighter Hector Chacon, 76, rappels down from a bridge in Guatemala City, Guatemala, to hand Christmas gifts to children. EPA

Trains at a standstill at King's Cross Station in London, UK, after 40,000 rail workers went on strike. EPA

Lightning flashes during a thunderstorm over Tirana, Albania. Reuters

A child plays outdoors at a camp for internally displaced people in Al Zawf, north-western Syria. AFP

Conservationists' scaffolding during an inspection of the 7.45 metre by 24.65 metre oil painting Il Paradiso (1592) by Tintoretto and his son Domenico in the Palazzo Ducale in Venice, Italy. AP

Swans fly past as the sun rises over the Vistula River in Topolno, northern Poland. EPA

The Harbin Ice-Snow World, a renowned seasonal theme park, in Harbin, in north-east China's Heilongjiang Province. EPA

Rowers dressed as Father Christmas take part in a Christmas regatta along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. Reuters

More from The National:

Saturday's best photos: from ski jumping in Switzerland to lightning in Albania

Friday's best photos: from Al Forsan to karate championships

Thursday's best photos: from a storm in Louisiana to fuel shortages in Syria

Wednesday's best photos: from a snow leopard to a diving Santa

Tuesday's best photos: from a German sunrise to a Kashmir sunset

Monday's best photos: from a Nasa splashdown to snowy London