A final about more than two standouts

As the four-week long football extravaganza draws to a close in the Qatari capital Doha on Sunday, expectation, anticipation and debates are rife over whether Lionel Messi can lead Argentina to a first World Cup title in his playing career or whether Kylian Mbappe can reinforce France's dominance in the new millennium.

Both teams stand a step away from claiming their third world title, but have taken vastly different routes to come to this stage. The defending champions were all the rage in the group stages, swatting Australia 4-1 in the opening match and then brushing Denmark aside 2-1. Even though a largely second-string French side lost against Tunisia in their last group match, their passage to the knockouts was certain by that point and they were scintillating in their Round of 16 win over Poland.

But Les Bleus, struggling with injuries even before the tournament started, had to dig in to get past a plucky England side before just getting the better of a highly impressive Morocco in the semis. One man who stood out through these ups and downs was Mbappe, now the leading scorer with five goals along with two assists in the tournament. The times he failed to find a way through, others stepped up and bailed the team out.

Messi, too, has played a similar role on the pitch to that of Mbappe by scoring five goals and providing three assists, but he also had to lead with his strength and determination to dig out the Albiceleste from a hole they had dug for themselves after the Saudi Arabia defeat in their tournament opener.

Arsenal's legendary coach Arsene Wenger, currently FIFA Development chief, had to weigh in on this debate ahead of the final. "The boss of the orchestra is Messi and the music starts when he has the ball," the 73-year-old told reporters while saying that he felt collectively France are in a more favourite position.

The discussion among outsiders may be focused on Messi and Mbappe, but for tacticians like Lionel Scaloni, who has guided Argentina to a new high after winning the Copa America last year, feels the final is more than just Messi v Mbappe.

"Sunday's game is much more than Lionel Messi against Mbappe, it's Argentina against France, it goes beyond that," Scaloni said.

But eventually Scaloni, who previously played alongside Messi in the Argentina team, had to give in to the questions regarding Messi and his impact on Argentinian football.

"Let's hope that if it's Leo's (Messi) last game, that we can win the title. It would be great and the important thing is to enjoy it... What better scenario than in a World Cup final."

While Argentina have the prospect of ending a 36-year-wait, France can become the first side since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup.

"It's the same objective for the two teams. One of the two will have a third star on their shirt after tomorrow's game," France coach Didier Deschamps said in his pre-match talk.

Despite having a number of players out injured since before the World Cup and during it, France have ploughed their way through but they find themselves in more trouble with a virus sweeping through the camp ahead of the final.

But captain Hugo Lloris was determined to end the tournament, and maybe his international career, on a high. "We have to be ready to surpass ourselves, to make the effort despite the circumstances with the virus, despite the fatigue. We must finish the job," Lloris said.

France and Argentina have produced some memorable encounters over the years, not least the thrilling 4-3 win for France in Round of 16 four years ago. Finals are often cagey affairs and goals are hard to come by but if Sunday's final is anything close to that thriller in Kazan, it will be a grandstand finish to the Qatar World Cup, which has witnessed so many memorable performances from both Messi and Mbappe and beyond.