FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Sunday's FIFA World Cup Final is (15:00 GMT) Argentina v France

Despite Antoine Griezmann's all-action efforts, this showpiece will invariably be billed as the showdown between the Paris Saint-Germain pair of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Qatar Sports Investment - who just so happen to own PSG - hedged their bets with a third celebrity forward, but the feted stars of the past and future (and present) pulled through following the quarter-final exit of Neymar's Brazil.

Messi and Mbappe both sit on five goals as they bid to also win the Golden Boot, though it's the Argentine who is having the slightly better tournament statistically as he's bagged three assists compared to the Frenchman's two.

This may be the match that decides the best team in the world, but this is not a meeting between two flawless outfits. In fact, it's only the second time in men's World Cup history (the first since 1978) that both finalists arrive in the showpiece having already lost a match in the tournament.

Argentina saved their best display of the competition for a convincing semi-final victory over Croatia but they remain wildly reliant upon one (admittedly brilliant) 35-year-old. France kept their first clean sheet in Qatar against Morocco but - as Hugo Lloris admitted - "suffered so much".

There's enough talent in both sides for this game - which is devoid of a clear favourite - to be decided by a moment of magic. But there has been plenty of evidence this winter to suggest a mistake may prove even more likely and pivotal.


Argentina team news

Lionel Scaloni will be able to welcome back Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel after the fullback pair sat out the semi-final through suspension - Acuna will be vying with Nicolas Tagliafico for a starting berth.

Alejandro Gomez is a doubt with an ankle problem and Angel Di Maria has been struggling with muscular issues. The Juventus forward didn't feature at all in the semi-final though could make his first start since the group stages in Sunday's final.

France team news

Adrien Rabiot watched France's semi-final against Morocco from the team hotel as one of the multiple players suffering from what Didier Deschamps described as "flu-like symptoms".

Dayot Upamecano made the trip to the stadium but didn't get off the bench while he nursed the bug. However, Deschamps is confident that both players would be available for the final. Kingsley Coman is the third player known to be affected and he's a doubt.

Argentina 3 France 3

Messi (23'minutes pen, 108'minutes),
Di María (36'minutes)

Mbappé (80'minutes pen, 81'minutes, 118'minutes pen)

Argentina win 4-2 on penalties

Lionel Messi has led Argentina to World Cup glory after beating France on penalties in one of the most thrilling climaxes in final history.



Argentina looked to have thrown the trophy away, after Kylian Mbappe scored twice in the last 10 minutes to take the tie into extra time, after a Messi penalty and a sweeping finish from Angel di Maria had seen the Argentines 2-0 up in the first half.

Messi restored their lead in the extra period, before Mbappe stunned the South Americans again from the penalty spot to force a shootout with his third - the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since 1966.

But Kingsley Coman had his penalty saved by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, and Aurelien Tchouameni then missed the target, allowing Gonzalo Montiel fire home the winner and spark incredible scenes.

Golden Ball - Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Messi, 35, led Argentina to their third World Cup title, scoring twice in the final as they beat France in a dramatic penalty shootout.

He netted seven goals in seven games and became the first player to score in each round of the same World Cup since the last-16 round was introduced in 1986.

He is also the first player to win the Golden Ball award twice since it was introduced in 1982 after also winning the honour in 2014.

Mbappe was named the Silver Ball winner as the second best player in the tournament and Croatia's Luka Modric picked up the Bronze Ball after guiding his country to third place.

Golden Boot - Kylian Mbappe (France)

He was top scorer with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final. It was the first treble in a World Cup final since Sir Geoff Hurst's in 1966, when England beat West Germany.

The Paris St-Germain forward also created history when he became the first player to score four goals in a World Cup finals, having also netted in France's 2018 victory over Croatia.

Mbappe, who took his total tally of World Cup goals to 12, became the youngest player to reach double figures in the competition.

He joined Brazil's Vava and Pele, West Germany's Paul Breitner and France's Zinedine Zidane as the only players to score in multiple World Cup finals.



Golden Glove - Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)

Emiliano Martinez kept clean sheets against Mexico, Poland and Croatia
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez kept three clean sheets as he helped Argentina win the World Cup and was given the Golden Glove award.

He played every minute of the tournament and saved Frenchman Kingsley Coman's spot-kick in the final shootout.

Morocco's Yassine Bounou and England's Jordan Pickford also kept three clean sheets as their sides reached the semi-finals and quarter-finals respectively.

Young player of the tournament - Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)

Enzo Fernandez played in all seven of Argentina's matches at the 2022 World Cup
Argentina and Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez, 21, was named Young Player of the Tournament after a string of impressive performances in Qatar.

He started the final win over France and scored his only World Cup goal in the 2-0 victory over Mexico in the group stage.

Elsewhere, England won the FIFA Fair Play Trophy for the fewest bookings throughout the tournament.[/u]