Argentina wins FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Highlights: Messi wins Golden Ball, Mbappe wins Golden Boot

The 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup will see both two-time World Cup winners, Argentina and France, lock horns at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar 2022.

Updated : Dec 19, 2022 00:52 IST

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, two teammates of Paris Saint-Germain will be in action against each other for Argentina and France, respectively, in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Hello and welcome to SPORTSTAR’s live updates of the Qatar World Cup final between Argentina and France.

FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL -ARGENTINA VS FRANCE, FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE

Argentina vs France, FIFA World Cup final 2022 LIVE in pictures: Starting XIs out; Closing ceremony underway- FOLLOW HERE FOR MORE UPDATES

Starting lineups!!
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi (captain), Julian Alvarez
France: Hugo Lloris (captain), Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez, Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe

FIFA World Cup final, Qatar 2022 closing ceremony LIVE Updates- FOLLOW HERE FOR MORE UPDATES

Is there another animal like Paul the Octopus for FIFA World Cup 2022?

Paul, the octopus, became a global sensation with his accurate match predictions during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Kept at an aquatic life centre in Germany, Paul was presented with two food boxes - marked with two team flags - and the one he ate from was considered his prediction for the upcoming game.

Paul predicted the results of Germany’s games at Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. READ FULL STORY

All goals of Lionel Messi in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 so far- WATCH HERE

Messi hometown Rosario ready for FIFA World Cup final, Argentina vs France in Qatar 2022 - WATCH HERE

Argentina vs France, FIFA World Cup 2022 Final: Head-to-head record, previous WC games

Argentina will face defending champion France in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday, December 18.

Argentina qualified for the final after a comprehensive 3-0 win against Croatia in the semifinals, while France clinched a 2-0 win against Morocco to reach its second successive final. READ FULL STORY

What happened when Messi and Mbappe met in FIFA World Cup last time?

Argentina and France will take on each other in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday.

The final will be the 13th meeting between the two football powerhouses, a sixth in the World Cup. Overall, Argentina has won six, France has won three while three have ended in draws.

At the quadrennial event, Argentina leads France two games to one. The last match between them at a World Cup was in 2018 and became an all-time classic - READ FULL STORY.

Why referee Anthony Taylor barred from officiating final?

The FIFA World Cup 2022 final between Argentina and France on Sunday will see no English official involved in the match, neither on the field nor off it.

According to reports, FIFA feared the presence of English referees could lead to biases against Argentina in the final due to the frozen relationship between Argentina and England, who fought the Falklands war in 1982 - READ FULL STORY.

What is France’s record in WC finals before Qatar 2022?

France entered the FIFA World Cup 2022 as the defending champion, after beating Croatia in Russia four years ago.

Football bears a frugal memory and the win, with coach Didier Deschamps on cloud nine is all in the past now. In Qatar, the team has continued its miraculous consistency, becoming the first team to reach consecutive finals since Brazil in 2002 - READ FULL STORY.

What is Argentina’s record in FIFA World Cup finals?

Argentina will play its sixth final in its World Cup history, when it faces France at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday, December 18.

Argentina is a two-time world champion, winning the title in 1978 and 1986. Apart from that, it finished as the runner-up in the 1930, 1990 and 2014 editions of the tournament - READ FULL STORY.

Who has the most assists - Messi or Griezmann?

Argentina and France will be competing in the final at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday to draw curtains to the FIFA World Cup 2022.

For Argentina, it is Lionel Messi who has been at the heart of its attack. In the opposition camp, the defending champion has enjoyed Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann in rich form en route to the final - READ FULL STORY.

Messi is great, but we’re here to win World Cup: France captain Lloris

The world may have billed this FIFA World Cup final as a Lionel Messi versus Kylian Mbappe final, but France captain Hugo Lloris said it would be foolish on his team’s part to just focus on the Argentine captain.

“I believe the event is too massive to focus on one player. It’s a final between two big nations but when you play that type of a player [Messi], you need special focus. But Argentina is a tough team with a young generation of players who are dedicated to Leo Messi,” Lloris said - READ FULL STORY.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Who is the referee for Argentina vs France final today?

The stage is set for the FIFA World Cup 2022 final as Argentina takes on defending champion France at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday. The match will kick off at 8:30 Indian Standard Time (IST).

Szymon Marciniak will be in charge of the proceedings tonight. In the final, he will be among the familiar faces as he has already officiated matches involving Argentina and France in this World Cup. Who is Marciniak? READ FULL STORY.

Messi: The talisman who led Argentina to the FIFA World Cup final more with his head than feet

Eight years after their heartbreak in Brazil, Lionel Messi and Argentina are in another FIFA World Cup final, where it will take on defending champion France at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday.

Unlike in the past, the Argentine players, under the stewardship of Lionel Scaloni, have rallied around its magisterial captain, who leads the Qatar World Cup in both goals scored and created - READ FULL STORY.

Argentina vs France, FIFA World Cup 2022 Final: Head-to-head record, previous WC games

Argentina will face defending champion France in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday, December 18.

Argentina qualified for the final after a comprehensive 3-0 win against Croatia in the semifinals, while France clinched a 2-0 win against Morocco to reach its second successive final - READ HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD HERE.

Giroud, Varane doubtful starters in World Cup final against Argentina 

France striker Olivier Giroud and defender Raphael Varane are doubtful starters in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup 2022 final against Argentina.

The Daily Mail reported that Giroud and Varane have been “excluded from Didier Deschamps’” final training session on Saturday ahead of the final at the Lusail Stadium.

Varane has been suffering from flu and separated from the rest of the squad. Dayot Upamecano was spotted training ahead of him - READ FULL STORY

Deepika Padukone to escort FIFA World Cup trophy in final at Lusail Stadium

he World Cup trophy would arrive at the Lusail Stadium in a specially commissioned Louis Vuitton trunk, escorted by Indian actor Deepika Padukone and a member of France’s 1998 or 2018 World Cup-winning teams. The  FIFA World Cup trophy travel case is designed to protect and transport the FIFA World Cup trophy, which weighs 6.175 kgs and is made of 18-carat gold and malachite.

Padukone was appointed as the brand ambassador of the French brand in May, 2022 - READ FULL STORY.

Match Schedule
Argentina vs France - 8:30 PM IST
Venue : Lusail Stadium, Lusail City, Qatar

PREVIEW

This capital of the energy-rich thumb-shaped Gulf nation has often made you feel that you are in (cleaner) streets of Mumbai or Kochi as Indians tend to outnumber everyone else around. And for a month, a vast majority of them along with the 35,000 visiting Argentine fans have turned this place into a sacred tour of Lionel Messi. His face adores most billboards and the neon buildings that light up the evening skies and every second person in the streets wears a Leo Messi jersey (mostly fake), while the rest rummage through the stores in Mushareib, Souk Waqif, Wakrah or Lusail to pick the last few available ahead of Argentina’s final against France.

The Argentine captain has not disappointed his disciples as he has lighted up the tournament with a sprinkling of sorcery – the goal against Australia, the no-look pass to Nahuel Molina, or his toying of Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol in the semifinal. His greatness has been demonstrated throughout the tournament, but for Doha to build a permanent shrine for Messi, the final act of deliverance needs to arrive. A World Cup trophy from Lusail to truly establish his supremacy - READ FULL PREVIEW HERE.