'Genius' Messi on the verge of emulating Diego Maradona

With the 2022 FIFA World Cup final being his last appearance on the biggest football stage, Lionel Messi is certainly making it a memorable one.

Messi is now just 90 minutes away from the ultimate accolade of having a World Cup forever attached to his name as Argentina face defending champions France on Sunday at the stunning Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

The 18 carrot gold has alluded Messi throughout his decorating career. 

The mercurial and gifted footballer has won many trophies throughout his stellar career, first at Barcelona and now at Paris Saint-Germain.

The 35-year-old holds the record number of Ballon d'Or accolades (7), as well as achieving success with Argentina as they won the Copa America back in 2021.

He has played at a total of five World Cups, reaching the final in 2014 but suffering an agonising loss to Germany.  

Despite all the success Messi has achieved throughout his career, there are always lingering doubts about whether he is indeed the greatest player of all time, but winning the World Cup is seen as an important component as Argentine legend Diego Maradona have shown. 

Messi is often criticised for not replicating his club performances with his national side.

Following Argentina's round of 16 exit to France in the 2018 World Cup, Maradona was quoted as saying: "We shouldn't deify Messi any longer. He's Messi when he plays for Barcelona. Messi is Messi when he wears that shirt and he's another Messi with Argentina. He's a great player but he's not a leader. It's useless trying to make a leader out of a man who goes to the toilet 20 times before a game."

Messi's first World Cup appearance was back in 2006 and even at the tender age of 18, he lit up the tournament, scoring a goal and registering a single