World Cup Football finals made many footballers great, while led some others out of the spotlight from the pages of the history. Diego Maradona became legend by winning the World Cup trophy, but legends like Johan Cruyff and Ferenc Puskas remain behind him as they couldn’t won it. Lionel Messi is judged as the one of the greatest footballers of all time. However, without having the World Cup trophy, all the achievements of a legend footballer seems unfulfilled! Can Lionel Messi shine as World Cup winner? Or will he be defeated to the dynamic flair of Kylian Mbappe?

In the final match of FIFA World Cup 2022, Argentina and France will face each other at Lusail Iconic Stadium of Qatar on local time 6 pm (Bangladesh time 9 pm) on Sunday. It’s the last chance for Lionel Messi to win the World Cup as he’s now 35 years old and surely not be present in next tournament. On the other hand, Kylian Mbappe and his team have the chance of becoming immortal by winning it for the successive second time.

Who’s going to win the World Cup? Lionel Messi’s Argentina or Kyllian Mbappe’s France? It’s the question that’s floating inside the minds of the fans. However, the game is not confined to just the two for sure. On the bigger picture, the fight is between two teams, as well as the millions of fans. Dream, passion, love, expectations of millions of people are mingled with the final match.

French captain and goalkeeper Hugo Loris said, “Messi is the greatest player in the history of the game. However, the game will be played between two teams; nothing’s personal here.”

Argentina and France had faced each other 12 times. Argentina won six times, and France won thrice. However, in their last battle in the very last World Cup, France won 4-3. Now, Argentina may want to take revenge of that match, while French team may want to get inspiration from that.

Argentina took preparations in all possible ways. Angel De Maria can play from the very beginning of the match. Their coach also hinted to the matter. On the other hand, some problems were rose in French camp. Star players like Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate are in the list of players who got sick. Even, they couldn’t participate in Friday’s practice session. However, Coach Didier Deschamps said he has 24 players and he’d form the team from the players’ available in hand.

Brazil won the World Cup for maximum five times. Italy and Germany won it four times, while Argentina and France won the cup twice. Both of the teams have the chance to increase the tally by winning it for the third time.

The example of taking the trophy to Latin America was lastly shown by Brazil in 2002. Next four world cup winners were all European teams. Can Messi and his team take it back to Latin America again?

Some record will take place in the final match on Sunday. Firstly, Lionel Messi will make record of playing maximum number of World Cup matches (26). In almost 100 years of World Cup history, Messi could become the highest goal-scorer as well as highest assist provider at the same time. The same chance is also ahead of Kylian Mbappe. Messi can earn ‘immortality’ by winning the world Cup as well. On the other hand, Mbappe has the chance of winning the trophy twice at the age of just 23 and repeat the achievement of Brazil legend Pele. Furthermore, Didier Deschamps can become the second coach to win the world Cup trophy twice after Vittorio Pozzo did it in 1934 and 1938.

Many records might be made in the upcoming match; however, no record will be worthier than winning the World Cup trophy. Who’s going to be the champion, Argentina or France? The question will be solved in the heavy-weight final match on Sunday.

@The story was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 18, 2022 and rewritten in English by Lutfyl Hoque