By Isaac Akugizibwe,
WORLD CUP
The 2022 FIFA world cup will eventually come to a close with a much anticipated duel between two highly talented sides, France and Argentina. Tonight’s encounter has been dubbed a Messi vs Mbappe show down and a win for Argentina could end Messi’s long wait for World football’s biggest prize.
France is pursuing successive World cup triumph after winning in Russia 2018, a milestone that will see them join Brazil and Italy as the only Nations that have worn football’s most coveted prize back to back. They must stop Messi and Argentina if they are to write another piece of victory.
Italy won the World Cup in 1934 and 1938 while Brazil inspired by Pele were victors in 1958 and 1962.
Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina have been improving since losing their opening game against Saudi Arabia. Talisman Lionel Messi has been super impressive scoring five times and making three assists that have seen the South American champions in the finals against the 2018 champions.
Messi has already said the final could be his last world cup match but the little magician from Rozario is set to over take German legend Luther Mathius with the most appearances at the FIFA World Cup though his mind is certainly focused on winning the world cup, the only accolade missing in his accolades cupboard.
Coming up against a side as focused and well organized like Didier Deschamps’ France is surely a huge challenge for Messi but the Argentines must beat the best if they are to rule World football for the next few years as well as help their little god, Messi find the most comfortable seat among the Greatest of all time.
Messi has for the last one decade or so competed for football’s biggest team and individual prizes and match his exploits is Europe’s finest and Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo. The two have evoked one of the world’s longest debates of who is actually the Greatest of all time.
The overall consensus from pundits, analysts to fans is that victory for Argentina in tonight’s final will settle the debate once and for all.
Ronaldo’s team Portugal was eliminated by this World Cup’s surprise package, Morocco at the quarter finals and the former Manchester United forward left Qatar with only a goal to his name. He is currently a free agent after leaving Manchester United on mutual basis following a controversial interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticised the club.
This appeared to have somewhat distracted him in Qatar where he also didn’t end business on the best of notes with coach Fernando Santos. He was forced to play from the bench for all portugal’s matches except for the opener against Ghana.
On the other hand, Messi has been outstanding in every aspect for Argentina and for the second time in his career,he has led his nation to the World cup final.
While he watched Mario Gotze spoil what would have been his crowning party in Maracana in 2014, the PSG forward won’t wait to see team mate Kylian Mbappe and company busk in glory this time around. He has already proved that he is willing to sacrifice himself for his country’s sake.
Now he has only 90 minutes to put himself on the same list as country mate and hero Diego Armando Maradona and arguably the Greatest of all time, Pele of Brazil. All that messi has done in Qatar won’t count thus far unless he is crowned champion, one thing the whole of Argentina, South America and perhaps the whole world is waiting to witness with egearness.
The winner in today’s final will take home $42m to which is an increase of $4m compared with four years ago in Russia.
In addition to the prize money, the winning team will receive a gold-plated bronze replica of the 18-carat gold trophy which measures 38cm (15 inches) in height and weighing 6kg (13lbs) , designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga.
