The Qatar World Cup final is on Sunday. France and Argentina will compete in the final, which will be held at Lusail Stadium in Doha.
The goal of both teams will be to become champions for the third time. France is on the verge of lifting the World Cup trophy for the second time in a row. Previously, France was the champion in 1998 and 2018. Argentina was the champion in 1978 and 1986.
6 players to watch in the final
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
All eyes are on Messi at the Qatar World Cup. Messi has said that this World Cup is his last. 35-year-old Messi has scored five goals in the ongoing World Cup. Similarly, three passes have been provided. Messi scored one goal against Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Australia, the Netherlands, and Croatia.
Three goals were possible in penalties. Being in the front line as needed, Messi is playing as a midfielder most of the time. Argentina has succeeded with him.
Messi has scored 96 goals in 171 games for Argentina. Messi, who is playing professional football for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), reached the final in 2014 and lost the title.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
Young striker Kylian Mbappe is in great form in the ongoing World Cup in Qatar. PSG player Kylian Mbappe has scored five goals. He is in the race for the Golden Boot along with Messi.
The former winner, 23-year-old Kylian Mbappe of France, scored two goals against Denmark and Poland and one goal against Australia. Mbappe is adept at running, finishing, and passing while maintaining control of the ball.
Despite not scoring against Morocco in the semi-finals, Mbappe contributed to both goals. Mbappe, who has been with the national team since 2017, has scored 33 goals in 66 matches. Mbappe is on the verge of winning the World Cup for the second time in a row.
Olivier Giroud (France)
Experienced striker Oliver Giroud has scored four goals in the ongoing World Cup. 36-year-old Giroud took his place in the set after the main player of the team, Karim Benzema, was injured.
Even in the final, coach Didier Deschamps will trust Giroud in the front row along with Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann. Giroud, who scored two goals against Australia in the first match, scored one goal each against Poland and England.
Giroud, who has been in the national team since 2011, has scored 53 goals in 119 games, becoming the top scorer for France.
Julian Alvarez (Argentina)
Julian Alvarez, who started from the bench in the first match against Saudi Arabia and the second match against Mexico, has been a “playing set” in all four matches of the team since then.
After the main striker, Lautaro Martinez, was not in a natural rhythm in the first two games, coach Lionel Scaloni gave Alvarez a chance. He scored four goals in the remaining four matches.
Alvarez, who scored one goal each against Poland and Australia, scored two goals against Croatia in the semi-final and is fourth in the race for the highest scorers.
22-year-old Jose Alvarez, who joined Manchester City from Argentina, has scored seven goals in 18 games since his debut in 2021.
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)
Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has continued his excellent performance in the World Cup. Argentina kept three “clean seats” while making the trip to the final.
Even when Argentina was the 2021 Copa America champion, Martinez had a great performance. Martinez, who won the “Golden Gloves” along with the title, has become a regular and experienced goalkeeper for Argentina.
With his excellent performance recently, he has a contract with Premier League club Aston Villa until 2020. In the World Cup final, it will be a challenge to stop attackers like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, and Antoine Griezmann from France.
Hugo Lloris (France)
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who was not in good form until the quarterfinal match, has been performing well in the subsequent matches.
The captain and goalkeeper, Lloris, had a great performance against England and Morocco in the semi-finals. Loris’s only “clean seat” has been kept in the World Cup.
Lloris, the captain of the former winning team, is at stake for lifting the World Cup trophy continuously. Lloris, who plays professional football for Premier League club Tottenham, has played 144 games for France.
