Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, which will give Argentina the advantage over France in the World Cup final, according to Emiliano Martinez.
Messi's appearance in Sunday's clash at Lusail Stadium will make him the all-time record appearance maker in World Cup history (26), while he could also become the first player to score in the group stage, round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final in a single edition of the tournament.
Having also played a key role in Argentina winning the Copa America last year, Martinez thinks Messi will again be the difference maker.
"I see him very happy as does every Argentinian, he feels very well on the pitch," the Albiceleste goalkeeper said.
"I saw a great Messi in the Copa America, he was exceptional and one of the best undoubtedly in the Copa America, and in this World Cup he took [another] step forward.
"He's playing better, both physically and in football terms. It was quite difficult to get that Messi from the Copa, but he did it.
"He's playing very well and it gives so much energy to the squad, because we have the greatest player. He's excited, he's full of joy and it helps us very much."
Messi was joint-top scorer at the 2021 Copa America with four goals, and is also joint-top scorer at the World Cup with five, level with France's Kylian Mbappe.
Martinez thinks defending champions France will be the favourites on Sunday, but believes Messi could tip things in his team's favour.
He added: "Obviously when we won [the Copa America] in Brazil, they were the favourites.
"It is the same now, people can say France are favourites. But we have the advantage, to have the greatest player of all time.
"We always like to hear that the opponent is the favourite, because we don't feel inferior or superior to anyone. But as I said, we have the greatest of all time and with a good defence we have a big chance to reach our goal."
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni had a more succinct view of Messi ahead of the game, with many expecting it to be the 35-year-old's final World Cup of an illustrious career.
"We hope this will be his final match and that he can lift this trophy, but the most important thing is to enjoy Messi," he said.
While the game is being billed as Messi v Mbappe, Scaloni does not want to focus on individuals, but thinks it will have to be a complete team effort for Argentina to lift their first World Cup since 1986.
"I think tomorrow's game will be more of a collective effort, not an individual effort," he said.
"Mbappe is a top player obviously but France also have a number of great players, they work for [Mbappe] and that makes him even better. Obviously he's one of the top players, he's still young so can improve for sure.
"The upcoming match will be beyond [Messi v Mbappe]. We have weapons, strengths, and the match will be defined by every player, not just these two.
"Messi is doing very well and we hope we win, but this is Argentina v France and there are many players who can define this game."
England youngest men's Test debutant Rehan Amhed took two wickets as Ben Stokes' team enjoyed a strong start against Pakistan.
Ahmed made history on Saturday, becoming the youngest male player to make his Test bow for England, at the age of 18 years and 126 days.
The leg-spinning all-rounder had a day to remember at the National Stadium in Karachi, in the third and final Test of a series England have already won.
Ahmed's fellow spinner Jack Leach (4-140) made early inroads for England, dismissing Abdullah Shafique before taking a catch to send Shan Masood packing.
Babar Azam (78) and Azhar Ali (45) guided Pakistan above 100, but Ollie Robinson had the latter walking back to the dressing room after a review showed an edge through to Ben Foakes.
Ahmed's first wicket came next – Ollie Pope lunging forward at short leg after Saud Shakeel edged onto his pad.
The teenager was involved again when the key wicket of Babar fell in one of his overs, Pakistan's captain being made to pay for hesitating when Foakes swept off the bails from Harry Brook's throw.
A superb googly saw Ahmed collect his second wicket, with Faheem Ashraf pinned leg before wicket, paving the way for Leach to round matters off and have Pakistan all out for 304.
Zak Crawley failed to survive the first over of England's innings, Abrar Ahmed's excellent delivery doing for the opener, but Ben Duckett and Pope ensured no further loss as the tourists reached stumps at 7-1.
Ahmed delivers on debut
There has been plenty of focus on history-making Ahmed ahead of this Test, with Stokes able to afford the youngster a chance with the series already wrapped up.
Ahmed did not let anybody down, however, and finished with final figures of 2-89 on a day for the spinners in Karachi.
Captain's knock from Babar
Pakistan might well have been looking down the barrel of a series whitewash already if not for their skipper, whose 78 came from 123 deliveries and included nine boundaries.
He was ably supported by Agha Salman (56), who succumbed to a Leach delivery late in the innings.
Lionel Messi's stunning performances at the 2022 World Cup "show the evolution of modern sport", according to former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Wenger made the observation while speaking alongside Germany legend Jurgen Klinsmann at a press conference for FIFA's Technical Study Group.
The tournament in Qatar has seen a number of older players feature in starring roles for their national teams, with 35-year-old Lionel Messi set to lead his Argentina team out against France in the World Cup final.
Luka Modric, 37, impressed for Croatia as they reached the semi-finals, while Olivier Giroud will likely lead the line for France on Sunday having broken Thierry Henry's record as Les Bleus' all-time top goalscorer at the age of 35.
At the other end of the scale, 19-year-old Jude Bellingham was a driving force in England's run to the quarter-finals and Kylian Mbappe, at 23, can become the youngest player to win two World Cup finals since Pele if France are victorious against Argentina.
Wenger feels this World Cup is demonstrating how modern sport is advancing, with new technology helping participants to lengthen their careers.
"I managed [Arsenal] in 2006 against Barcelona in the Champions League final and Messi was already starting to play," Wenger said at the press conference.
"That’s 2006, we are in 2022 – that’s 16 years later and he’s still in contest for being player of the tournament.
"This tournament shows the evolution of modern sport.
"This tournament is the tournament of young players who are ready earlier and earlier in top-level sport, and as well the tournament of players who last longer and longer than ever before.
"We have not experienced World Cups with 35-year-old players being dominant, but we have Giroud, we have Messi, Modric – 37 – dominant players at this tournament.
"It shows that despite all the negativity about health and welfare of players, the life of a top-level sportsman lasts longer. They are ready earlier and they finish later."
Sunday's match likely represents the final chance for Messi to get his hands on the World Cup, the trophy that has eluded him for so long, including a heartbreaking extra-time defeat to Germany in the 2014 final.
With Messi potentially about to crown his career, Klinsmann believes there is a strong desire in the game for Argentina's star man to finally lift international football's top prize.
"Messi - everybody wants him to do well," Klinsmann stated. "We talked before the tournament about the big superstars who will put their stamp on the tournament and most of them delivered.
"Most of us are Messi fans no matter what. We want him to win the World Cup and be seen on the same level in his home country as [Diego] Maradona.
"We all know that for [Cristiano] Ronaldo and Messi it could be the last tournament. They have established themselves on the world stage for the last 15 years."
Klinsmann cited Mbappe as the potential heir to Messi and Ronaldo's throne, adding: "We talk about those big superstars towards the end of their career but also who is the next one taking over.
"Mbappe has the advantage because of his age.
"I was amazed about a lot of young players coming through, like [Cody] Gakpo from the Netherlands, or even with Germany going home early, there’s a special kid coming up with [Jamal] Musiala."
The World Cup in Qatar has come under intense scrutiny, particularly on the host nation's treatment of migrant workers and views on same-sex marriages.
With the end in sight, FIFA president Gianni Infantino labelled it "the best World Cup ever", with Klinsmann agreeing it had been a great tournament.
"It’s been wonderful," Klinsmann declared. "[A] huge success off the field and on the field.
"We all have many moments with people here, the atmosphere, the stadiums, the organisation itself.
"Every time you are at a World Cup you think it’s the best. I’ll leave that up to other people. It’s been an unbelievable experience and tomorrow will be an amazing final."
Despite Zakir Hasan's century, India need just four wickets on the final day to beat Bangladesh in Chattogram.
Axar Patel struck three times to leave hosts Bangladesh on 272-6 at the end of day four of the first Test.
Chasing a huge target of 513 at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium after tons from India's Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara, Bangladesh reached the end of day three with 42 runs on the board for no loss.
That stubborn resilience continued on Saturday as they made it to 124-0, before Najmul Hossain Shanto (67) was finally removed by Umesh Yadav early in the second session.
Yasir Ali was swiftly dismissed after facing just 12 deliveries, Axar picking up the first of his three wickets.
Zakir watched another of his partners fall when Litton Das (19) sent a Kuldeep Yadav googly into the waiting hands of Umesh at long-on.
The 24-year-old reached his debut hundred with a smart sweep for four, but an inside edge to Virat Kohli from Ravichandran Ashwin's full ball saw Zakir's stand come to an end.
Bangladesh's slim chances of victory were further dashed by a brilliant over from Axar.
The left-arm spinner first took out Mushfiqur Rahim's off stump before luring Nurul Hasan out of his crease, allowing Rishabh Pant to smash off the bails.
Axar finished day four with figures of 3-50 off 27 overs, with Bangladesh needing 241 runs from the final day for an unlikely victory, with captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the crease.
Axar the pick of the bunch
Axar was the only India bowler to take more than one wicket, including those two in a superb 88th over of the innings.
He went for just 1.85 runs an over and is sure to play an important role on day five.
Zakir stars for hosts on debut
In his maiden Test for Bangladesh, Zakir was the man who kept the very slim possibility of a win for the hosts alive.
Bangladesh frustrated India in the first session, with Zakir's steady hands guiding them to 119-0 by the end of the first session.
While his team's innings eventually started to crumble around him, Zakir dug in to reach a memorable 100, which included 14 boundaries (13 fours, one six).
David Trezeguet admits Sunday's World Cup final will be "difficult personally" as the France World Cup winner with Argentine roots finds himself pulling for Lionel Messi.
Former Juventus star Trezeguet is torn by his loyalties to each country, but his feeling is that Messi deserves to be a World Cup winner and needs this more than Kylian Mbappe.
The Paris Saint-Germain team-mates are shaping to be the principal players in the Lusail Stadium drama that will unfold, with 35-year-old Messi seeking his first triumph at this level while 23-year-old Mbappe chases his second winner's medal.
Trezeguet was a champion with Les Bleus in 1998, having elected to play for France, where he was born, over Argentina, from where his parents hailed.
Looking at the position Messi finds himself in, Trezeguet told TyC Sports "I repeat it continuously, for me emotionally, knowing that it will be his last World Cup, Leo deserves to be champion.
"He makes people dream, this does not take away from France's ambition to want to keep the title.
"France came to be world champion, there is no doubt. Here the difference is age, Leo is at the end of his career, Mbappe has just started and will set all kinds of records.
"Together at PSG they are the perfect combination, but Argentina plays for Messi, everything goes through him.
"It's difficult personally, emotionally. Something I didn't want, but hey, this has to be a party and it's a great final.
"It is what we all expected, due to characteristics, history, they are the two best teams in the World Cup."
Trezeguet could be overtaken by Mbappe on the list of France's all-time highest goalscorers on Sunday.
Presently, Mbappe has 33 goals for his country from 65 games, one shy of Trezeguet's career haul of 34 in 71 international matches.
While Trezeguet will be able to celebrate either victory, there will be broken-hearted players on one side come the end of the final.
His admiration for Mbappe is fulsome, and Trezeguet believes the forward and his bullish ways only bode well for his long-term prospects.
"He has a healthy ambition, he wants to be better than Messi, that's his motivation," Trezeguet said. "Living in everyday life with Leo and Neymar [at PSG] makes him learn."
Ever since Dan Campbell took to the podium for his introductory press conference in Detroit and made eyebrow-raising statements about biting the kneecaps of opponents, the Lions have had a strong following as the 'second favourite team' of many in the NFL world.
Their reputation in that regard has been furthered by Campbell's aggressive decision-making and the impressive way in which he and his staff have developed their young talent.
But eventually, rebuilds – like the one the Lions started when they traded franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for a host of draft picks – must yield results.
When the Lions dropped to 1-6 with a home defeat to the Miami Dolphins in Week 8, it was fair to question if Campbell was the right man to lead a rebuild.
Since then, the Lions have won five of their last six games and, in a top-heavy NFC, are now in with a shout of sneaking into the playoffs as a Wild Card.
With only one of their final four opponents owning a winning record, the Lions look well-placed to complete an unlikely run to the postseason. However, if they get there, will Detroit be a threat?
Looking solely at the offense, there is plenty of reason to suggest the Lions can challenge to spring a first-round upset.
The Lions rank seventh in the NFL by yards per play (5.86) and possess an exciting combination of a well-rounded running back room and an explosive downfield passing game.
Detroit's offense has produced 46 pass plays of 20 or more yards, the fourth-most in the NFL, while the running back combo of D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams has delivered both efficiency and potency. Swift's average of 5.36 yards per carry is the fifth-best among backs with at least 50 carries and Williams leads the league with 14 rushing touchdowns.
The mix of an effective ground game and an aerial attack featuring a legitimate number one receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown, whose presence is supplemented by that of D.J. Chark and the return of rookie speedster Jameson Williams from a knee injury suffered in his final college game has turned the Lions' offense into an extremely difficult one to stop, with quarterback Jared Goff - acquired as part of the Stafford trade - facilitating their outstanding production with a remarkable renaissance.
Cast off by the Rams when viewed as a quarterback Los Angeles won in spite of, Goff has been one of the best signal-callers in the NFL when defenses know he is passing.
Indeed, as of Week 14, Goff was averaging 0.96 yards over expected in expected passing situations, putting him sixth among quarterbacks with at least 100 such plays.
The Lions can run the ball well and they can produce through the air when everyone knows what is coming, but there are clear weaknesses that figure to be exploited in the postseason.
Detroit's offensive line, was 23rd in pass block win rate heading into Week 15. In a postseason where they could face the fearsome defensive lines of the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, an inability to protect Goff would obviously be a huge detriment to the Lions.
And the Lions' defense would also be a massive concern heading into a potential postseason campaign. The Lions rank last in the NFL in yards per play allowed, giving up an average of 6.22.
But that defense has stiffened in recent weeks and has shown a habit for making game tilting plays. Since firing their defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant on October 31, the Lions are second in takeaways (11) and tied-fourth in points off takeaways (28), with rookie second overall pick Aidan Hutchinson, who has seven sacks on the season, enjoying an increasing influence in stopping the drives of opposing offenses as he did in last week's victory over the 10-win Minnesota Vikings.
The defeat of Minnesota represents the signature win of a team few had anticipated would be in position to play in the second week of January. The Lions were also unfortunate not to beat the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving, but that narrow 28-25 loss arguably represented a more accurate representation of where they are in their evolution.
The Lions can trouble the league's elite, but they still have too many holes to be considered a threat to do damage in the postseason. Still, in year two of the Campbell era, that is a place Detroit should be more than happy to be.
Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins will look to get their offense back on track amid heavy snowfall on Saturday when they face the Buffalo Bills on the road in Week 15.
The Dolphins have had one of the most explosive attacks in the NFL in 2022, but Miami's offense has stalled in recent weeks.
Back-to-back defeats to the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers have dropped the Dolphins to 8-5, with Miami scoring just 17 points in each loss.
Miami's defeat to the Chargers was especially worrying, as it saw the Dolphins record a season-low 127 passing yards.
Their 10 completions in that game were their fewest since Week 13, 2015 (nine), with that anaemic performance coming against a struggling Charger defense ranked 30th in the NFL by yards per play allowed (5.96).
That is a very bad omen with a Buffalo defense ranked eighth by the same measure, though the elements may be the primary reason why the Dolphins fail to bounce back.
Lake-effect snow, which forced the Bills to move their Week 11 home game with the Cleveland Browns to Detroit, is forecast for Saturday's contest.
This week's game has not been moved, meaning Tagovailoa will have to fight through extremely challenging conditions not conducive to offensive production if the Dolphins are to prevail.
And the omens for Miami claiming a surprise victory over the 10-3 Bills are not promising.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott is 9-2 in his career against the Dolphins, the best record by any coach with at least eight games against Miami all-time.
Only two coaches have 10 or more career wins against Miami (Bill Belichick, 26, and Marv Levy, 15).
The Bills also own a five-game winning streak at home against the Dolphins, tied for their longest all-time. It is one game shy of matching Buffalo's longest home win streak against a divisional opponent all-time (twice against the Colts and once against the Patriots).
Miami once looked like shoo-ins for the playoffs. Now all the signs point to another defeat that will damage their postseason prospects unless they can find a way to master the elements and an opponent that has their number in games in Buffalo.
France coach Didier Deschamps is unperturbed about the prospect of Les Bleus playing the role of party poopers in Lionel Messi's quest to finally win the World Cup in Sunday's final.
Messi has already confirmed the showpiece game at Lusail Stadium will be his last ever outing at the World Cup.
In that sense, it is the last opportunity he has to win the only major trophy he is yet to lift, potentially cementing his status as the "greatest of all time".
For many, Messi needs to win the World Cup to ensure his legacy outstrips that of Albiceleste great Diego Maradona.
As such, there is undoubtedly huge anticipation surrounding Argentina's prospects in the final, but Deschamps – whose France side are bidding to become the first European side to retain the World Cup since 1938 – is not worried about the likelihood of it feeling like it is France against the world.
Asked if he got the feeling France were "alone" in that respect, Deschamps said: "I often get that feeling, but I'm fine being alone, that doesn't bother me. These uncertainties always arise.
"We are here, we've done all we can to be well-prepared for the game against Argentina.
"Lionel Scaloni has also had some challenges; they lost their first match to Saudi Arabia, of course, but they are still here.
"And like us, we haven't had to face everyone in this tournament, but in the games we've played, we've managed to come out as victors.
"I don't have any particular worries or stresses for [the final]. I think when you prepare for a game like this, you need to keep your focus, remain composed, and with a World Cup final in particular you have the match but also the context around it.
"The objective is to come out with the title. I know Argentina and many people around the world, perhaps some French people as well, will hope Messi will win the World Cup, but we will do everything we can to achieve our objective."
Ahead of the World Cup, there was uncertainty around the future of Deschamps.
Despite leading Les Bleus to the Euro 2016 final, Russia 2018 success and the final in Qatar, Deschamps is not universally popular among France fans.
There was a feeling before the tournament that an unimpressive campaign would lead to Deschamps' departure, with Zinedine Zidane lying in wait to replace his former team-mate.
French Football Federation (FFF) chief Noel Le Graet said at the start of the week that he wants Deschamps to stay, with Euro 2024 only 18 months away.
Regardless of what the future holds for Deschamps, he does not think everything hinges on the final.
"Being France manager has always been the most wonderful thing that's happened to me in my career," he said.
"I played for France and that was a wonderful achievement, but to be a coach for so long has been a tremendous opportunity.
"I'm delighted to be France coach but the most important thing is the team, not me, I'm at their service.
"It's all about the team, not me, I'm not the most important person here. It won't depend on tomorrow's result, that's not what I'm thinking about.
"I'm just focusing to ensure we do everything we can to win the World Cup."
France head coach Didier Deschamps says his team is "remaining calm and focused" despite an illness outbreak ahead of Sunday's World Cup final.
Les Bleus were without Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano for Wednesday's 2-0 semi-final win over Morocco due to a sickness bug among the squad.
The French Football Federation confirmed on Friday that defensive pair Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate had missed training through illness, after Deschamps said on Thursday that Kingsley Coman had felt unwell.
Speaking at a press conference on the eve of the final against Argentina, Deschamps seemed relaxed and confirmed he was feeling well himself.
"I'm absolutely fine," he said. "As for the players, I left quite early this morning, they were all still asleep so I have no recent updates.
"We are trying to manage the situation as well as we can, remaining calm and focused. I'll get more information today and think about it today and maybe even tomorrow.
"I don't want to go into details. I know it's a subject that's of interest to you and I fully understand that but we are doing our best to take precautions and adapt as necessary.
"We are trying to live with it without going too far, getting too carried away, just doing what's necessary.
"We'd have preferred not to face this difficulty but we are facing it as best we can with our medical staff."
France captain Hugo Lloris also seemed in fine shape when addressing the press, but also did not have any information on the condition of his team-mates.
"I have not got any more news since last night because everyone was still in their rooms when I got up, I haven't seen anyone," he said.
"I'm sure you'll get more info by the next training session.
"We never really prepared for this type of thing, but we will try to get ready for the match the best we can.
"These are things we weren't prepared for but we remain focused, and of course we are very excited about playing in a World Cup final."
Most World Cups have one truly iconic player who is intrinsically linked to that tournament for eternity, a standout star head and shoulders above the rest.
Pele had 1958 and 1970, Diego Maradona had 1986. There was Paolo Rossi in 1982, while Ronaldo was arguably that man in both 1998 and 2002.
But there aren't many instances of a World Cup final having two players vying for a victory that would have seismic consequences on their respective legacies. Or at least not to this degree.
Qatar 2022's final is France against Argentina, but it's more than that. It's also Kylian Mbappe v Lionel Messi.
Both are teetering on the precipice of achievements that'll long outlive them, and it all rides on one match.
Messi's last chance
For many, there is no debate.
"Sometimes as Argentinians it of course looks like we say it just because we are Argentinian. Maybe it's selfish [but] I don't have any doubt saying that: Messi is the best in history," Lionel Scaloni said after the 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia.
But it's not just Argentinians.
His goals and assists record should be enough to settle the discussion on its own, but beyond that, when you think about what defines a good footballer in the simplest sense, for most it comes down to technical ability; literally being a good footballer.
Of course, being a professional player is a bit more nuanced than that and perhaps such simplicity is biased in favour of forwards, but the majority of football spectators don't pay their money to see great defenders.
In addition to his goals and assists, Messi's natural ability should swing any debate in his favour, yet there remains a popular suggestion he will not be regarded as the greatest of all time until he's won the World Cup.
To some, the fact he's been the key player behind almost countless successes in all the biggest club competitions he's played in – some of which are arguably a higher level than the World Cup – isn't enough.
No, until he's done what Maradona did in inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, this defiance to accept Messi as the greatest will linger – and that's not up for debate.
Messi confirmed – or rather reiterated – after the semi-final that Qatar 2022 will be his last World Cup, and he seems to be playing with a vengeance.
Let's not forget, before this tournament, he'd never scored a World Cup goal beyond the group stage; on Tuesday he became the first Argentina player to net in three different knockout rounds of the tournament.
And if you look at the quality he's producing, there's an insistence to leave no stone unturned. Just take his defence-splitting assist against the Netherlands, for instance, or the brilliant run that left Josko Gvardiol – one of the finest young defenders in world football – in knots before teeing up Julian Alvarez against Croatia.
World Cup success would finally render Messi's detractors defenceless.
The King?
Will Mbappe ever be considered the greatest of all time ahead of Messi? As incredible as he is, it seems unlikely at this point.
Obviously, that shouldn't be seen as criticism of Mbappe, rather an indicator of Messi's remarkable ability and longevity.
But as the debate around Messi proves, historically we view football success – and the sport's all-time greats – through the prism of World Cup success.
Maybe that'll change over the coming years because club football has only become more advanced, but perhaps it won't.
After all, the World Cup will likely always be the greatest and most-watched sporting spectacle on Earth.
Success for Mbappe on Sunday will give him two World Cup triumphs before the age of 24, the age he turns on Tuesday. Pele won his second at 21, so he is little behind the Brazil great, who went on to win a record three.
However, context is key. Pele played only two matches at the 1962 World Cup due to injury and did not feature in the final; if France win, Mbappe will have had an inspirational impact on two triumphs.
Again, this isn't about saying whether Mbappe is better than Pele or not, instead how the young Frenchman will be perceived historically in the future.
Playing a central part in two World Cup successes before the age of 24 is something no one has done before.
For many, Pele is regarded as the greatest World Cup player ever, perhaps the player most synonymous with the tournament.
His is a legacy that will stand the test of time, but victory on Sunday would have Mbappe on course to rival – potentially even overthrow – him as 'The King' of the World Cup.
Lionel Messi has had a career most could barely even dream about, let alone achieve.
And yet, the greatest prize of all has continued to elude him – the closest he has come to being a World Cup champion was in 2014 when Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the final in Brazil.
The magician has one last chance to right that wrong when Argentina face off against France in Sunday's showpiece in Qatar, the perfect stage to put the cherry on top of the cake.
But standing in his way is another Paris Saint-Germain megastar in the form of Kylian Mbappe, whose Les Bleus side know how to get the job done having been crowned winners four years ago in Russia.
So, will it be Messi walking off into the World Cup sunset finally a champion on international football's biggest stage? Or is it the younger pretender's time to further enshrine himself as a legend of the tournament?
Two Stats Perform writers, John Skilbeck and Pete Hanson, argue the toss prior to Sunday's final.
Messi's time has finally arrived – John Skilbeck
No pressure, Leo, but it's now or never. You'll take now, you say?
Sunday will be an extraordinary day in an extraordinary life as Messi chases the crowning glory that has eluded him until now.
The great Messi will at last be a World Cup winner if he and Argentina can get the better of a France team who will not relinquish the trophy easily.
He's been on this very brink before, of course, with Argentina beaten by Germany in the 2014 final. So what's changed? And why will it be a different story this time?
Put simply, Messi needs this more than anyone who will be on the pitch on Sunday. He needs it, and he not only knows what it takes now, but he is performing at a level to take this into his own hands.
You can look at those 672 goals and 35 trophies for Barcelona, the silverware he has added at PSG, and even the Copa America he won with Argentina last year, and you can marvel.
But ending his career without a World Cup triumph would be treachery to his talent, and collectively Argentina know they must rise for their captain, do the spade work to help him over the line this time.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic says it is "already written" that Messi will lift the trophy, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic often talks bunkum. On a more evidence-based level, Messi is in great shape. He has five goals and three assists at this World Cup, with that combined total of eight goal involvements higher than anyone else's tally.
Three of those strikes were penalties, of course, and he should really be on six goals, given the spot-kick he failed to convert against Poland. But Messi is making things happen. He has created 18 chances so far (only Antoine Griezmann, with 21, has created more) and played 88 forward passes and 39 passes into the final third, in both cases the most of all players classed as forwards by Opta.
Sunday is his last World Cup match. The greatest player of his generation knows what he must do. He's ready for this, and so is all of Argentina. Messi is finally ready to move alongside Maradona in the Albiceleste pantheon.
Football has no time for sentiment, Mbappe will deny Messi's moment – Pete Hanson
The greatest of all time debate throws up some strange oddities, particularly on social media.
I can completely accept that it is subjective, yet to suggest Messi finally getting his hands on the World Cup would not enhance his own claims is, frankly, absurd.
For what it's worth, I think, regardless of the outcome at the Lusail Stadium, Messi has done enough to prove he sits atop the mountain.
And yet, I fear, Sunday will not provide Messi the World Cup swansong he and football romantics the world over so desperately desire, and it is a man he knows well from Paris Saint-Germain who will instead further entrench his legacy with football's greatest tournament.
Kylian Mbappe has some way to go to matching Messi's genius in the domestic game and at some point you feel he will have to leave the home comforts of Paris, but in the here and now he is the leading light in a well-oiled Les Bleus machine that simply wins the big moments.
Julian Alvarez aside, Messi's supporting cast has not been the best in Qatar. An opening-game loss to Saudi Arabia has long been forgotten but had it not been for their diminutive superstar dragging them through the tournament it feels unlikely Argentina would have made the knockout stages, let alone the final.
Mbappe, conversely, can rely on a much more rounded threat. Antoine Griezmann has legitimate claims for the Golden Ball himself, Olivier Giroud – now his country's leading goalscorer – provides the perfect foil for more technical players, and the industry of Aurelien Tchouameni can keep Didier Deschamps' men ticking.
France were not always convincing against England nor much more – if at all – against Morocco, but crucially they have a canny knack of getting the job done at the most crucial times in a match.
In Mbappe, whose five goals are matched only by Messi, they have the ideal man to deny football's best ever his greatest moment.
South Africa were bowled out for less than 200 for the fifth successive Test innings, before an unbeaten 78 from Travis Head helped put Australia in a strong position in the first Test at The Gabba.
Dean Elgar's team were torn apart by Australia's bowling attack on day one as the Proteas were dismissed inside 50 overs for just 152.
The hosts also wobbled initially on a fast pitch, but Head and Steve Smith (36) steadied the ship from 27-3, though a couple of late wickets gave South Africa some hope of getting back into the game.
A tentative start from the tourists saw them reduced to 27-4, and things could have been significantly worse had it not been for a partnership of 98 between Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreyne, before the former was bowled by Mitchell Starc for 38.
That began another batting collapse, with Verreyne eventually falling to Nathan Lyon for 62 as the tail failed to wag.
South Africa struck immediately in reply though as David Warner struggled with a short delivery from Kagiso Rabada off the first ball of the Australian first innings and was caught well by Khaya Zondo for a golden duck.
Marnus Labuschagne (11) edged Marco Jansen's first ball into the hands of Elgar before Usman Khawaja (11) also nudged an Anrich Nortje delivery to sub Simon Harmer in the slips.
After a reprieve when a review showed an edge had dropped just short of Elgar, Head took full advantage as he brought up his half-century off just 48 balls.
A partnership of 117 with Smith was ended by Nortje before the close as he sent a terrific delivery into Smith's stumps, before Rabada dismissed nightwatchman Scott Boland (1) off the last ball of the day, though Head remained unbeaten on 78 from just 77 balls as Australia closed on 145-5.
Balanced Aussie bowling downs Proteas
The key to a potent bowling attack – especially in Test cricket – is teamwork and variation, and Australia have that in spades.
South Africa's was an innings of two halves, with Starc (3-41), Pat Cummins (2-35) and Boland (2-28) all picking up early wickets, before the consistent spin of Lyon mopped things up, with the 35-year-old ending with figures of 3-14.
Head leads the way
It has been a very interesting innings from Head, looking nervous after scoring just two from his first 16 deliveries, before deciding to just go for it and smashing 51 from his next 32.
He even brought up his 50 with a six down the leg side, making a mockery of the struggles experienced by almost every other batsman on day one, ending with 14 boundaries (13 fours) to his name by the close.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have dominated the 2022 World Cup.
Both have been the driving forces behind Argentina and France's respective runs to the final.
And the Paris Saint-Germain team-mates are not just vying for glory for their nations in Sunday's showdown at Lusail Stadium.
The Golden Ball award – for the best outfield player at the tournament – as well as the Golden Boot, are up for grabs.
But what do the Opta numbers say ahead of the mouth-watering clash?
Game time
The pair have both appeared in all six of their side's games in Qatar. However, while Mbappe came on from the bench in France's surprise loss to Tunisia at the end of the group stage, Messi has played every minute for Argentina, which is quite extraordinary given his age.
Naturally, it's Messi – set to become the all-time leading appearance-maker in World Cup history when he takes to the field on Sunday – who comes out on top for minutes played, with 570 to Mbappe's 477.
Goals
It's five goals apiece heading into the final, though it's worth noting three of Messi's strikes have come from the penalty spot, whereas Mbappe has scored all of his goals from open play.
Messi has averaged a goal every 114 minutes, while his club-mate has registered one every 95 minutes. Both players have outperformed their expected goals (xG), albeit Mbappe, whose xG stands at 3.46 in contrast to Messi's 4.75, more so.
The 35-year-old is now Argentina's all-time leading scorer at the World Cup, with 11 goals, while should he score against France he will become the first player to find the net in the group stage, the round of 16, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in a single edition of the tournament.
A goal involvement will also make Messi the first player to record 20 at the competition (since 1966), while if Mbappe scores he will be the youngest player to net in multiple World Cup finals (at the age of 23 years and 363 days). That would also make France's main man surpass the late Gerd Muller as the youngest player to hit 10 World Cup goals.
Shooting
The duo are incredibly close in this category, too. Messi has taken 27 shots, two more than his opposite number, who boasts a slightly better shot conversion rate (20 per cent compared to 19). Mbappe has hit the target 11 times, with Messi doing so on 14 occasions - a tournament high.
Creativity
Assists are not always the best barometer for assessing a player's creativity, of course. Messi does edge out Mbappe in this statistic (three assists to two), but the differential is greater in terms of chances created – Argentina's talisman has crafted 18 goalscoring opportunities to Mbappe's 11.
Messi's expected assists (xA) of 1.63 suggests the finishing of his Argentina team-mates from the opportunities he has provided has exceeded expectations, while Mbappe has also outperformed his xA (1.23).
It's Mbappe who leads the tournament for involvement in open play shot-ending sequences, with 45. Unsurprisingly, Messi is a close second (43); Antoine Griezmann is third, with 13 fewer such involvements.
With his assist for Julian Alvarez's goal against Croatia on Tuesday, Messi matched Diego Maradona's record of eight assists in World Cup finals (since such data is available from 1966 onwards).
Across the last two World Cups, Messi and Mbappe are the players to have generated the most chances following a carry – moving at least five metres with the ball – with 27 and 22 respectively.
On the ball
Neither player is renowned for his off-the-ball work, but in possession is when they turn on the style.
Messi is the focus of Argentina's play, and that's reflected by his 432 touches; Mbappe, in comparison, has had 319 touches. However, it is the France forward who has had more touches in the opposition's box (58 to 37).
Of Messi's 294 passes, 249 (84.7 per cent) have been accurate, a slight improvement on Mbappe's 82.7 per cent accuracy.
Mbappe has played 83 successful passes ending in the final third, way down on Messi's total of 121.
It is the 23-year-old who has completed more dribbles (21 to 15), though Messi edges it out for duels won, winning 39 to Mbappe's 29.
Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Anthony Davis is nervously awaiting X-ray results after he suffered a foot injury in Friday's 126-108 home win against the Denver Nuggets.
Davis, who entered the game averaging career-highs in both points (28.1) and rebounds (12.4) this season, came up hopping after a lay-up attempt early in the contest, briefly returning in the second quarter before sitting out the entire second half.
Head coach Darvin Ham told the media after the contest that X-rays were administered at the arena and they expect to have more clarity on the situation on Saturday, while ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported there is hope the injury is not severe and Davis will likely undergo an MRI.
A prodigious talent, Davis has been plagued by injuries in his 11-season career, only reaching the 70-game mark twice while only mustering a combined 76 appearances in the past two regular seasons.
He has played in 25 of the Lakers' 28 outings so far this year, and the Lakers' chances of a playoff push will likely hinge on the length of his potential absence.
However, against the Nuggets they were just fine, led by LeBron James' 30 points on 13-of-20 shooting with nine rebounds, four assists and two steals in 36 minutes.
The Lakers' bench picked up the slack as Russell Westbrook continued to make his case for Sixth Man of the Year, posting a 15-point triple-double with 12 assists and 11 rebounds, while also facilitating Thomas Bryant's best game in a Los Angeles uniform.
Bryant scored a season-high 21 points on nine-of-11 shooting, adding six rebounds and two steals, while fan-favourite Austin Reaves had 16 points of his own and an equal game-high plus/minus of plus 26.
Speaking immediately after the win, James pointed out the efforts of Bryant and rookie Max Christie in helping to bounce back from a disappointing overtime loss to the Boston Celtics.
"That's what this league is all about, you've got to be able to stay even-keel," he said. "Yes, it was a disappointing loss, but there are more games to be played.
"I loved our effort tonight. The game ball goes to Thomas Bryant, and also rookie Max Christie coming in and giving us gigantic minutes, especially with AD's absence in the second half.
"We were just solid. Not only did we get defensive stops, but we got defensive rebounds and we were able to finish a lot on the break, not having turnovers.
"That's been an Achilles heel for us throughout this season, those unforced turnovers, and I think tonight we did a great job protecting the ball."
The Lakers will next face the visiting Washington Wizards on Sunday, who enter the contest on an eight-game losing streak.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
