The 2022 World Cup final will see Argentina and France duel it out to be crowned the best team on the planet.
There is also the sub-plot of two Paris Saint-Germain teammates; one arguably the best footballer ever and the other a near-certain future Ballon d’Or winner.
Lionel Messi is gearing up for his final shot at World Cup glory with Argentina, while Kylian Mbappe has already won the competition once and is hoping to help France retain that title.
The pair are now teammates at PSG, meaning they haven’t played against each other all too often. Here’s the detail between those previous encounters.
Paris Saint Germain 5-2 Barcelona – 2020/21 Champions League last 16
Messi and Mbappe have only ever squared off two times at club level. Those fixtures came in the 2020/21 Champions League when Barcelona drew Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16.
The first leg took place at Camp Nou behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. The atmosphere would have turned mutinous had fans been in attendance as PSG romped to an emphatic 4-1 victory.
Messi had put the hosts ahead with a 27th-minute penalty, but Mbappe then upstaged his current club teammate with a stunning hat trick alongside a Moise Kean strike.
Mbappe increased PSG’s tie advantage further in the return leg in France, though a 25-yarder from Messi levelled things up on the night to give the Catalans some hope. However, Messi then hit the bar with a penalty and more wasteful finishing saw PSG advance.
France 4-3 Argentina – 2018 World Cup last 16
Messi and Mbappe have only previously faced each other in international football once.
Argentina and France produced a World Cup classic in 2018 but it was Les Bleus who came through the last 16 tie as 4-3 winners.
Antoine Griezmann had France 1-0 up with an early penalty, but Angel Di Maria’s scorcher before half time and Gabriel Mercado’s effort had La Albiceleste 2-1 up early in the second half.
However, Benjamin Pavard’s brilliant half-volley had Didier Deschamps’ side back on level terms before Mbappe stole the show.
The PSG forward fired in after a scramble in the box and then rattled in a pass from Olivier Giroud. Sergio Aguero did pull one back in stoppage time, but the damage had already been done.
Messi has played in 25 World Cup games, having made his debut in the competition in 2006. He also became the youngest Argentine to play and score in the competition.
The former Barcelona forward has contributed 11 goals and eight assists at World Cups, but he notably only first registered a knockout stage goal in 2022. Messi previously came closest to success in 2014, when Argentina were beaten in extra time by Germany.
This is only Mbappe’s second World Cup and France have been a dominant force in both tournaments. He was the leading light in attack in 2018, scoring four goals, and has taken his total tally to nine with another five strikes in Qatar.
Credit: 90min.com
