Messi’s Argentina in World Cup final showdown with France

DOHA: Argentina face defending champions France in the World Cup final on Sunday with Lionel Messi seeking to win the honor that has so far eluded one of football’s greatest ever players.

In his way stands the prolific Kylian Mbappe and a France team aiming to win back-to-back World Cups for the first time since Pele’s Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

Messi, 35, has collected seven Ballon d’Or awards for the best player in the world, but the last time he reached the World Cup final it ended in the bitter disappointment of defeat to Germany in 2014.

It is Messi’s quest that will focus the world’s attention on the 89,000-capacity Lusail Stadium in Doha, the most spectacular of the remarkable venues that the desert state have erected to host the tournament, for the 1500 GMT kickoff.

“I am well aware that Argentina will have a lot of fans behind them,” France coach Didier Deschamps said on the eve of the game.

“I know Argentina, many people around the world, and maybe some French people, hope Lionel Messi could win the World Cup, but we’re going to do everything to achieve our objective.”

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said: “People say the favorites are France. But we have the greatest player of all time.”

Deschamps has suffered a difficult few days since France beat Morocco — the first African team ever to reach the last four — in the semifinal.

His squad have been battling a mystery virus that is believed to have affected five players so far.

Central defenders Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate, and winger Kingsley Coman were forced to miss training on Friday because of the illness.

Before that, midfielder Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano were ruled out of the semifinal.

Players, staff and sources close to