The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has flown by. Wedged into the middle of the European club season, it has had to. It’s hard to believe that the tournament began 26 days ago, yet so much has transpired in that time, including whittling down a field of 32 to just France and Argentina, who will meet in Sunday’s final at 10 a.m. ET.
Many would have expected France, the defending champions, to be here. But with Argentina having suffered an upset to Saudi Arabia in their opening game, their rally to reach a second World Cup final in eight years is more of a surprise. Although, when your team boasts Lionel Messi, can you ever really be surprised to be in contention for a major trophy?
So, with the World Cup final now just 48 hours away, what should we expect from a meeting of two of football’s powerhouses? To find out, ESPN asked Gabriele Marcotti, Mark Ogden, Julien Laurens and James Olley to weigh in on this intriguing matchup of Les Bleus and the Albiceleste.
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Lionel Messi vs. Kylian Mbappe: Can the GOAT hold off his heir apparent?
This is maybe the greatest individual matchup we have ever had in a World Cup final. Two world-class superstars — and club teammates at PSG as well, adding to the drama. The greatest player of all time, Messi, against heir to his crown Kylian Mbappe.
For Messi, it would be the perfect fairy-tale ending for a World Cup journey that has, thus far, been full of disappointments: from early exits to a final defeat in 2014 against Germany.
For Mbappe, it would be another piece of history made. At 23 years old, he would become the second-youngest player, after Brazil legend Pele, to win back-to-back World Cups.
There can be only one winner, of course. Sunday will be a showcase of their incredible talent, leadership and how they can impact a final on the biggest stage of all. And beyond the World Cup itself, there is also the next Ballon d’Or at stake here, the best player of the tournament prize and the top goal-scorer award (they are both on five goals at the moment.)
There is so much to look forward to in the battle between these two geniuses, not least because the last time they played, in the 2018 round of 16, it was 4-3 to France! — Laurens
