Messi is set for the golden ball but that will feel like no big consolation if Argentina don't win the trophy. Have never felt more nervous about a game. It feels even more intense than the 2014 final, knowing this is his last chance to win it.

I think Messi will score goal from free kick second half

They are in the final for a reason.They are the 2 best teams in the world.50 50 chance, the champion will be by luck, mistake,brilliance by a player or bad call by the officials.

Come on Leo the world is with you an you'll never walk alone 💯 VAMOS ARGENTINA 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷

A 23 year old Mbappe does less defensively than 35 year old Messi and 37 year old Ronaldo.

I think Messi will score from a free kick second half

Like Scaloni said in his presser; for Argentina it's Not about "lineups" necessarily; it's more about having an understanding of your responsibilities to the Overall team concept, which changes appreciably in different phases of the game. Each player must play His role in the TEAM concept of the preferred, accepted style. Looking for Mr X-factor Angel DiMaria at around 60-70 minutes; especially if the offense has not produced results that far.👍🇬🇾

I prayed so hard before and after every game after the loss against Saudi Arabia and I’m so happy how it turned out I prayed for a specific way and it went exactly like that for the first minutes

If Argentina win today it will be best day of my life 🇦🇷 ❤️ 🇮🇳

Shaka! Is Messi the GOAT now?

All the best to Argentina for the final.

I equally want Argentina to win the tournament this is mainly because of Messi. My personal choice.

Vamos Argentina

Why do a man like me with no ties to Argentina feel so nervous … it’s because Messi is the goat who suffers just like us all .. and suffer he will if he loses the World Cup .

This Mbappe story about not tracking back is overblown. I’ve liked this feature of the French team since the start of the group stage since he conserves so much energy throughout the game that there is basically no difference between his runs at 77’ than at 15’. That, and the attention he receives throughout games by the opposition are bonuses. And the result is that France has been the most consistent team in the tourney at manufacturing goals in open play. Given that they have other players that can take up the slack (which not a lot of teams have), it is a reasonable strategy and has worked for the better here. But no, these old school footballers view anything like that to signal arrogance, etc. Be old school if you want to, but results are the most important thing in any sport, and it’s been working for France. We’ll see if it works once again tomorrow

Congratulations on Argentina victory in the world cup, whoever wins I say "CONGRATULATIONS". It was a very tight match. Good Job Argentina.

bye France Argentina was way better, honestly i thoght France a bit stronger, but Argentina was way better, luck helped France to go to extra time, third penalty was luck

S/O to akram Akiff got me laughing 😂😂

SHUT UP ABOUT MBAPPE.......THE GUY SCORED 4 GOALS , AND NEARLY PULLED OFF THE UPSET

Five goals and two assists, but all what is people see is his defending. Something I'm 100% sure it's the coach's plan not Mbappe's plan.

Deschamps seems to be happy playing Mbappe the way he does, and France have made the final, so why change now? Just because some pundits think Mbappe should be doing more defensively? These pundits aren't in charge of the French team. Deschamps is and he is in a much better position to decide what is best for France than any pundit. Also, when the pundits call it wrong, they'll still be pundits, no matter how often they get it wrong. If Deschamps makes as many bad calls as the pundits, he'll be out of a job.

He isnt benching Giroud, he takes out Giroud later in the game and brings Thuram in, so he is training with those players... They have turned it into a Mbappe slander, who pays this guys?

So basically you guys made a conclusion that the reason giroud is benched (IF he is benched) is not because of an injury or anything but because mbapee said he doesn't want to defend. then you proceeded to trash mbapee and steve nicol based of this assumption that no one knows is true and because of this steve wants france to lose.

I am French and I see that most people are against France tonight. I can understand that winning the cup twice in a row bothers you. I'm proud of my team, we played great football unlike Spain or other boring teams who do 200 passes before shooting! Want a scoop? France by his talent, will score 2 goals in the first half. .. and the match will be magnificent...may the best win!!!

Vamos Argentina 🇦🇷

What is important for Kylian is to keep his explosivity when it is needed. He will however do what the coach ask him to do. Look like this Steve Nicol has forgotten how football works. Nobody is above DD in the French team.

Mis hermanos Argentinos felicitaciones de los brasileños!! Todos estavamos de azules hoy por vosotros... La midia brasileña es una mierda pero nosotros no!! Felicidades mis hermanos

Jules did report that Didier Deschamps gives Mbappe the freedom to express himself and that he doesn't have to defend. They even recognize that in this clip. ESPN are criticizing Mbappe for not defending while this is a tactical decision by the manager. This shouldn't be an issue but they keep coming back to this. Very strange. Like they know it better than the manager who has a 2018 WC under his belt. Laughable.

Stevie was never on the fence. He’s always wanted Messi to win it over CR7

i would love to see Messi score a brilliant goal. The same from Diego Maradona's 1986 QF against England.

It is not just about not defending. Mbappe also does not want to be outshone by Giroud in the World Cup final.

Ale was spot-on on his analysis of Argentina 🇦🇷 midfield. I expect them to play 4 midfielders instead of 3 because they can't be able to keep possession playing 3 guys in the middle of the park.

Steve's hate for a certain group of players overrides his football analysis I hope Mbape scores and France win and shut these crooks

Although many people keep saying may e best team win today as they are two of e best team in e world...but deep inside many people heart most of them still hope Messi can win it because this is his last WC!!! As Mabppe still only 23 years old and already have a WC winner medal...while Messi badly need it to fulfill his wishes to win it for Argentina n label as one of e best legend in Football history!!

So Mbappe is being discussed as if he is a liability rather than a strength. Wow. This is pretty cheeky stuff from our talking heads.

i knew it steve is supporting argentina 100% :)

Can we get a Messi hattrick please.

For how much pain and heartbreak he had to suffer i think tonight will and should be messi's night .. Also it will be a tribute for diego ..

ARGENTINA 🇦🇷 💙🇦🇷💙!!

Great win by Argentina. Epic final match and my heart goes out to France.

Argentina 1-4 france

Whatever you say, K. Mbappe will keep others busy by the mere presence. It will make him tired if he's running 🏃‍♂️ to defend the ball which he just lost. The composure won't be there. They(Argentina) have to budget at least two defenders to keep an eye on him. Let's go France 🇫🇷 because I like K. Mbappe so much.

"Shout out to Akrim Akif!" Haha that was funny man

This was some good discussions about formations We need more about this kind of stuff from ESPN fc Good job ale and juls and stevie

Neither one of you guys was 1/10 of the player M’Bappe is! Second, France is in the finals!! What are you guys talking about!!!

Wishing all the luck to Messi and Argentina today.

Okay, Stevie is the best. The greatest thing I can think of in the world is to watch Messi win the World Cup. The second greatest thing, in my dreams, is to come across Stevie in a bar and buy him a beer!

That's why everyone was calling for benzema

A British supporting the opposing team that France plays against, not surprising to me at all.

I don't care about the golden boot for Messi if he lift world cup that matters the most.

France 🇫🇷 🎉

Bruh I’m sitting here 1 am CST, final is on in 8 hours and I’m nervous af have had butterflies all night. I get anxious during games but the day before is something different. Never felt like this before

Just imagine the player is still young and does not participate in pressure or defense and they criticize Ronaldo every day for two years that he does not press or defend with the team

The anti france hate speech of this man just shows what a frustrated sad grey fellow he is. He'll bathe in his hate alone or with deeply under the alcohol sad and lost fellows... May the best win and may we see lots of goals for the love of sports. This man has no place on prime tv....

Will be tough for Argentina going up against all of Africa

Funny enough the goalkeeper they have can’t save a shot for Aston villa but here for Argentina he’s Buffon smh

League 1 is on fire now with Messi the GOAT aka world Cup winner & Mbappa golden both at 23 wow these 2 guys are unbelievable

Let's the best team to get the gold Both deserved to be World champion, no doubt!!! Personally I'm supporting Les Bleues they're play very nice football , but Messi and Argentina are amazing as well. 50 /50

FRNACE will dismantle your opinion

It’s been long with all the heartbreaks with Argentina. But still kept hoping and supporting. I was born in 80 Bangladesh. In 86 I was too small to understand anything. First time I watched football in 90s wc in black and white tv, when I was 10. Fell in love with Maradona and Argentina. Witnessed how referee made them loose in the final. Since then all the heartbreaks. In 94 Maradona scandal. 98 Hyped star (Ortega) doing stupid things getting red card and the. Bargcamps famous goal. Then Batistuta/Aimar/Saviola all failed in 2002/2006/2010. In 2006 stupid coach didn’t play Messi vs Germany. In 2014 reached final somehow. Had chances too vs very strong Germany. But higuain forgot how to play football. 2018 was a disastrous coach and team. Expectedly went out. Among them probably 2006 Arg had a very strong team. But coach messed it after going 1-0 up vs Germany. Messi didn’t play. All other years Messi kept playing well but luck and team mates or coaches let him down. But he was always blamed. Whenever I watch football a sadness comes inside. I even stopped watching club league matches or champions leagues too after that 2014 defeat I. The final. Most hurts me Messi’s sad face. Here they are again. One last chance. Finally they have a team which has a very good team work. Thanks to Scaloni. Finally we can clearly see Messi is playing with happiness and enjoying. Of course against France it won’t be easy. But it’s now or never. There won’t be any Messi again. I’m proud what they have accomplished so far. But can’t see Messi to be sad for rest of his life. He doesn’t deserve sadness after giving a lot to football world. He deserves this ultimate prize. I want him to smile. Hope all players give their everything they have. Vamos Argentina. Let’s do it this time.

Canadian here, this WORLD 🌎 cup is Argentinas 🇦🇷. Messi like Maradona are the legendary footballers.

Ideally, defending responsibility has to be shared equally between Dembele and Mbappé but because of Dembele's lack of end product, Dembele has to restrain himself on the wing and Mbappe has to remain forward for the counterattack.

Something unbelievable will happen. Argentina 2 -0 France.. 4-3 in the last World Cup is enough motivation for Argentina to defeat the French...

I have never supported Argentina 🇦🇷 before now but I just DO NOT want France 🇫🇷 to win again. Vamos Argentina 🇦🇷 💪 ❤ 🙌

Scary Intense Pressure on those 2 Magic Players 💯 ..

Who is your favortite team to win today's final. Argentina or France ? Stephanie from London

Kylian is there to attack, create and score goals. The defence is good enough on their own. End of

My head says France or Argentina more likely France...my heart says beautiful football to be watched

Don't cry Argentina, you will win this game.

LEAVE MBAPPE ALONE. HE'S TOP SCORER EVERYWHERE HE GOES INCLUDING HERE; WITHOUT ANY PENALTIES AND YOU ALL ARE COMPLAINING? CHANGE THE NARRATIVE. IT'S GETTING BORING. MBAPPE IS IN THE FINAL AGAIN. THE TATICS ARE OBVIOUSLY WORKING. WERE YOU ALL HAVING THE SAME ENERGY WHEN MESSI AND RONALDO WE'RENT DEFENDING? HYPOCRITES.

France literally WON the WC in 2018! And are now in the final...AGAIN...and these 🤡's wanna question Deschamps tactics as if he hasn't already achieved MAXIMUM success with it🤦🏿‍♂️

it isnt a back five its a 352 to occupy mid and be able to turn attack quickly

Hats off to stats legend Akram Afif. 👏

All the best argentina 🇦🇷,

Argentina 🇦🇷 Messi for the 🏆, all the best!!.

France (Mbappe) should continue with their strategy which has delivered goods till now. They are world champions for a reason.

Good analysis again by Ale.

Congratulations Messi and Argentina for winning the Fifa world cup 2022🐐🏆🇦🇷

Oh yeah because Messi is well known for defending 🤣

No one gets more pressure than Messi and argentina as an Argentine we have already won because we had the G.O.A.T it makes no difference.

"Shout out Akram Afif''. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

So we Messi fans went from hating Stevie for claiming Messi didn't deserve the balloon d'or, claiming that Messi is a bottler before the champions league match against Madrid last season to now loving him for secretly believing Messi is the GOAT!!!

I pray that Argentina will win the world cup final today in Jesus name

I think fan in the Stadium will be our 12 man. Vamos Albeceleste Vamos King leo 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷✌️

i think that nobody can predict the future,even if that future be a bout 10 hour later

Messi will have a hat-trick today

3-3 Argentina will win on penalties 🐐

VAMOSS ARGENTINA VAMOSSS LEOOOOOO VAMOSSS SELECCION VAMOSSS VAMOSSSS VAMOSSSS VAMOSSSSSSSS 🇦🇷

I can’t wait for this final - get your popcorn, croissant or alfajor ready ♥️

Vamos Argentina!!! 🇦🇷 🇦🇷 🇦🇷 💯💯💯 Messi🐐

I don't know why crag and Steve hates mbappe so much. May be this is what the coach wants him to do. Regardless still vamos Messi 🐐

Today, will be the best day,for messi,,and Argentina people

For the love of the sport I want France to win. Football is bigger than one man and his sycophants labelling him as the GOAT, what utter nonsense and sheet arrogance.

Regardless of what ever happens in the Final Lionel Messi is the Undisputed GOAT of Football.

1080p!!! since when?

It’s tactical! He is keeping pressure on the defense cause he’s a pace threat!! Unless you know it for a fact you’re simply speculating!! 😊

France 4-2

I think Messi will try solo dribbles near the box trying to cement his position as best ever, win a few free kicks and may score one of them, changing the momentum of the game with crowd chanting Messi, Messi winning the man of itmatch, world cup, golden ball and golden boot. France has weak link in defense on the left, and Mbappe doesn't help with defense. Messi can destabilize their defense on left and make a few key passes for Alvarez. I think France will find it much harder.

How many starting 11 players at club level in the top clubs of the top 5 european leagues does the Argentina starting 11 have compared to how many France has? Seems like the number is lopsided.

The young and inexperienced SCALONI achieved what many couldn't.