THE WORLD CUP FINAL IS MORE THAN JUST MESSI VS MBAPPE
There has been a lot of activity surrounding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 26 days have passed since the tournament began, yet so much has occurred, including the elimination of 32 teams to just France and Argentina, who will face one another on Sunday. The defending champions, France, were expected to be present. Due to Argentina's upset loss to Saudi Arabia in their opening game, achieving a second World Cup final in eight years comes as more of a surprise. In the history of World Cup finals, this may be the greatest individual matchup ever. It would be the perfect end to Messi's World Cup journey which has been full of disappointment, from early exits to a defeat in the final against Germany in 2014. Plus, it would be another milestone for Mbappe. He'd become the second-youngest player, after Pele, to win back-to-back World Cups.
In a heavyweight match involving two of Paris Saint-Germain's leading stars, the final is advantageous for the Qataris. Moreover, the football itself has proved highly entertaining for a tournament that was overshadowed by controversies off the field during the tournament's buildup as well as during much of its action. The winner of the World Cup will add a new chapter to the legacy of their country's football, either the French who will become only the third back-to-back champions in history or Argentina who will become the first nation to win the World Cup in 36 years with Messi becoming a legend on the biggest stage of all. Even though this competition has included a number of surprising success stories, such as Saudi Arabia's victory over Argentina and Morocco's remarkable run to the semifinals, the final match between these two global powerhouses is what everyone is anticipating. When Qatar won the bid to host this tournament twelve years ago, it is likely that they had this in mind.
Obviously, there can be only one winner. There will be an incredible display of their talent, leadership, and ability to impact a final on the biggest stage of them all on Sunday. Aside from the World Cup itself, there is also the possibility of winning the next Ballon d'Or award, which will be awarded to both the top goal scorer and the best player in the tournament. At present, both players have five goals each. In light of all those awards at stake, it is easy to understand why this World Cup final is being referred to as Mbappe vs. Messi.
Antoine Griezmann is more likely to be the one Argentina needs to stop, and Messi needs to outperform him given what has been seen so far. Griezmann has excelled in his new midfield role. During the semi-final match against Morocco, he was the pivotal defender, constantly picking up balls on the edge of his own penalty area and winning free kicks. The importance of his role for Les Bleus has grown to the point that he will make his 74th consecutive appearance for the team on Sunday.
The presence of Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe, and Ousmane Dembele in front of Griezmann has allowed him to shrug off the goal-scoring responsibilities that followed him in 2016. He is now the team's creator-in-chief, complementing a midfield duo of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot, when available. Griezmann is often the thorn in the side of opposition teams due to the fact that those two provide the muscle behind him. In an attacking sense, he is more likely to be found between the lines, while his relentless energy makes him a strong defensive player.
Griezmann was the top scorer at Euro 2016 with six goals and was named Player of the Tournament. Certainly, Mbappe has played a significant role in improving his game by taking away the spotlight from him, but he has also been able to reinvent himself, and Didier Deschamps is to be commended for his role in this process. In the world's biggest game, the World Cup final, all talk will once again revolve around the PSG duo. To be able to win the most prestigious trophy in Messi's career so far, his teammates must come up with a strategy to deal with Griezmann. The reason France is the favorite to win this World Cup final is the fact that they possess threats across the entire field. Messi is a player Argentina relies on so heavily that France has no choice but to try and stop him. Mbappe may receive the most attention for Les Bleus, but Giroud is on the scoresheet, Dembele is a constant threat, and Griezmann is in charge.
