Four weeks of soccer have been leading up to Sunday, the 2022 World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, pitting Lionel Messi and Argentina against defending champion France at 10 a.m. ET.
Both countries have won the tournament twice – Argentina in 1978 and 1986 and France in 1998 and 2018. Les Blues hope to become the third nation to win back-to-back tournaments, joining Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) as the only teams to accomplish the feat.
The World Cup has long eluded Messi, perhaps the greatest player in the history of the sport. Playing in this tournament for the fifth time, the 35-year-old Messi can win the one trophy missing from his cabinet.
Keep it here throughout the match for updates and highlights:
France still can't find a way through
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After a listless first half, the defending champions still haven't been able to get anything going since the break – while Argentina is taking advantage of the space to create some good chances in the first 20 minutes of the half.
HALFTIME: Argentina leads France 2-0
It was all Argentina in the first half, heading into the break up 2-0 behind goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria. They're 45 minutes away from their first World Cup championship since 1986, and the first of Messi's storied career.
Messi is the first player to score in all four rounds of the knockout stage – converting penalty kicks in the quarterfinals, semis and final after a goal from open play in the round of 16.
GOAL! 2-0 Argentina as Angel Di Maria scores
A beautiful counter-attack ends with Angel Di Maria finding the back of the net on a sweeping cross from Alexis Mac Allister. Lionel Messi's clever flick from the midfield released his teammates into space behind the French back line.
You're not going to see a nicer goal than that in a World Cup final.
GOAL! Lionel Messi penalty makes it 1-0 Argentina
Argentina's Angel Di Maria was fouled in the box by France's Ousmane Dembélé, gifting a penalty kick to Lionel Messi – who converted cooly from the spot as Hugo Lloris went the wrong way.
It's Messi's sixth goal of the tournament, and he's now in the lead for the Golden Boot.
Argentina applying pressure early
The Argentines have been on the front foot in the first 20 minutes, getting a couple of decent looks at goal and have been caught offsides twice already.
France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was down for a little bit after taking some contact in the penalty area.
France recovered from flu
Les Bleus are back to full strength. Well, as full strength as they get at this tournament.
Midfielder Adrien Rabiot and defender Dayot Upamecano, who missed the semifinal with the flu, were back in the starting lineup for France for Sunday's final against Argentina. Raphael Varane is also in the starting XI, two days after missing practice with "flu-like symptoms."
Ibrahima Konate and Kingsley Coman, who missed practice the same day as Varane, are also available to play.
One player who isn't available is Karim Benzema.
The reigning Ballon d'Or winner is training again with Real Madrid after recovering from the thigh injury that's kept him out of the World Cup, and there were reports the club had cleared him to join France for the final. But Benzema is listed on the start sheet as "absent."
The only change to Argentina's lineup is Angel Di Maria is back starting and Leandro Paredes is coming off the bench.
The 34-year-old Di Maria started Argentina's first four games at the World Cup, but came on as a substitute in the quarterfinal game against the Netherlands. He didn't play in Tuesday's semifinal against Croatia.
– Nancy Armour
What Argentina, France must do to win World Cup final
This wasn't the final many expected when the World Cup began almost a month ago, what with France hollowed by injuries and Argentina losing to Saudi Arabia in its opener. Yet here we are, the defending champions and Lionel Messi and Co. emerging as the class of the tournament as both chase history.
So what are the keys to victory for each team?
Argentina:
- Be ruthless
- Forget what's at stake
- Corral Kylian Mbappe
France:
- Stay present
- Don’t overlook Argentina’s youngsters
- Don’t mess with what’s working
Read Nancy Armour's full World Cup final preview here
Is Qatar's World Cup a prelude to Olympics in the Middle East?
There will come a day, not long from now, when Qatari officials will make their case that the success of this World Cup has shown Doha to be a worthy host of a Summer Olympics. Possibly as early as 2036. They will tout the dazzling World Cup stadiums, first-class training facilities and the efficient metro system that whisked fans between games. They will show photos of those smiling fans, celebrating their teams as the skyline glitters in the background.
They will remind the IOC that a Middle Eastern country has never hosted an Olympics, and point to the unfairness of excluding a region with more than 400 million people. It will be a compelling argument and one sure to tempt IOC president Thomas Bach, the great statesman he fancies himself to be.
– Nancy Armour, USA TODAY Sports
2022 Golden Boot: Messi, Mbappe tied for most World Cup goals
The World Cup final will decide the winner of the Golden Boot award as the top scorer of the tournament.
Argentina's Lionel Messi and France's Kylian Mbappe have each scored five goals in Qatar, with Messi holding the tiebreaker having three assists to Mbappe's two. Their teammates, Julian Alvarez of Argentina and Olivier Giroud of France are tied for third with four goals each.
Premier League, European clubs brace for fallout from winter World Cup
The tournament in Qatar has been described by FIFA president Gianni Infantino as the “best World Cup ever.” Europe's biggest soccer clubs, however, might not agree.
“We are exhausted," said Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who plays for Chelsea in the English Premier League. "Many of us will be exhausted when we come back to our clubs.”
The disruption caused by staging the World Cup during the European season has long been a point of contention. Traditionally held in June and July, the tournament dates had to be moved because of Qatar's soaring temperatures at that time of the year.
– Associated Press
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