2022 World Cup final live updates: Lionel Messi, Argentina face defending champion France
Four weeks of soccer have been leading up to Sunday, the 2022 World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, pitting Lionel Messi and Argentina against defending champion France at 10 a.m. ET.
Both countries have won the tournament twice – Argentina in 1978 and 1986 and France in 1998 and 2018. Les Blues hope to become the third nation to win back-to-back tournaments, joining Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) as the only teams to accomplish the feat.
The World Cup has long eluded Messi, perhaps the greatest player in the history of the sport. Playing in this tournament for the fifth time, the 35-year-old Messi can win the one trophy missing from his cabinet.
Keep it here throughout the match for updates and highlights:
What Argentina, France must do to win World Cup final
Follow every match: Latest World Cup Scores and Schedules
This wasn’t the final many expected when the World Cup began almost a month ago, what with France hollowed by injuries and Argentina losing to Saudi Arabia in its opener. Yet here we are, the defending champions and Lionel Messi and Co. emerging as the class of the tournament as both chase history.
So what are the keys to victory for each team?Â
Argentina:Â
- Be ruthless
- Forget what’s at stake
- Corral Kylian Mbappe
France:Â
- Stay present
- Don’t overlook Argentina’s youngsters
- Don’t mess with what’s working
Read Nancy Armour’s full World Cup final preview here
Is Qatar’s World Cup a prelude to Olympics in the Middle East?
There will come a day, not long from now, when Qatari officials will make their case that the success of this World Cup has shown Doha to be a worthy host of a Summer Olympics. Possibly as early as 2036. They will tout the dazzling World Cup stadiums, first-class training facilities and the efficient metro system that whisked fans between games. They will show photos of those smiling fans, celebrating their teams as the skyline glitters in the background. Â
top scorer of the tournament.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappe have each scored five goals in Qatar, with Messi holding the tiebreaker having three assists to Mbappe’s two. Their teammates, Julian Alvarez of Argentina and Olivier Giroud of France are tied for third with four goals each. Â