Lionel Messi is hoping to crown his stellar career by leading Argentina to World Cup glory on Sunday but Kylian Mbappe's history-chasing France are standing in his way.

Kylian Mbappe can on Sunday become the youngest player to win two World Cups since Pele achieved the feat at the age of 21.

With Argentina reaching fever pitch just hours before Lionel Messi and his teammates take on France in the World Cup final, football fans throughout the country felt a sense of destiny brewing.

Lionel Messi, playing his last ever World Cup match is an everlasting inspiration with how he overcame repeated heartbreaks and obstacles to take the Argentine team to the path of their recent success. If there is one thing that we can learn from Messi, it is to tackle challenges head-on and come out as victors. His redemption story with the national team is a basis of how there is always a stage for a resurgence after you have been down with failures.

The era of Messi and Ronaldo has almost ended. It is unlikely that we will see either of them in the next World Cup and it is looking more and more likely that they will retire from football sooner than we can bear. That being said, it is time for the next GOAT to step up and claim his position, whoever that may be. As things stand, Kylian Mbappé just might be that GOAT we are looking for.

The World Cup final between Argentina and France is almost upon us and the expectation is growing more and more. Lionel Messi and the Albiceleste have a historic opportunity to lift the trophy for the third time in their history.

Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer at the World Cup, although that doesn't mean he no longer has an interest in who takes the new world throne, which will be decided between France and Argentina.

Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez criticised Kylian Mbappe over old comments the France striker made about the quality of South American football.

France midfielder Paul Pogba sent his team-mates a video message ahead of Sunday's showdown with Argentina.

Wearing clothes back to front, holding a picture of Diego Maradona or a stamp depicting the saint of urgent causes, even a grandmother sitting in the same chair: superstitious Argentines are taking no chances for Sunday's World Cup final.

Julian Alvarez came to the World Cup as a peripheral figure for Argentina but is preparing for Sunday’s final against France as their new star in attack.

Less than two years ago, Antoine Griezmann was wandering around like a lost soul in La Liga after a tough time at Barcelona and a rough return to Atletico Madrid but on Sunday he could lay claim to being France’s greatest player.

A shift has already occurred, tectonic plates have collided resulting in the dusk of the old and the emergence of new horizons. At the footballing forefront, France’s Kylian Mbappe readies to win his second World Cup as he looks to come forth as the face of the next generation of megastars but faces the old guard in Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who has yet again carried his side to the cusp of glory.

Croatia midfielder Luka Modric said he intends to play for the Balkan nation until the Nations League finals in June next year but has yet to decide about his participation at the Euro 2024 tournament.

When defending champions France take on Argentina in the World Cup final tonight, all the focus will certainly be on the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. However, two men on the pitch will perhaps play as important a role, if not more, than these two – Hugo Lloris and Emiliano Martinez.

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said he will be watching Sunday's World Cup final match between his national team and France from home, and not in person from Qatar.."Like millions of my compatriots, I will enjoy the final of the World Cup at home," he said Sunday on Twitter.."

After a mesmerising month of upsets, when several brash outsiders threatened soccer's status quo, the World Cup final will have a familiar feel on Sunday when France and Argentina will go toe to toe, each seeking a third title.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez says the South Americans are happy to be underdogs as they prepare to face defending champions France in the World Cup final on Sunday.

If it wasn’t obvious before, I think the match between Argentina and the Netherlands laid to rest all doubts about the importance of the referee in a football match.

Argentina look set to keep Julian Alvarez in attack for Sunday's World Cup final against France after he scored twice in a devastating combination with Lionel Messi in the semi-final.