Argentina takes on France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar today to see who shall smile back home with the FIFA World Cup.
If France wins:
- It would become the fourth nation to win the World Cup at least three times.
- It would become the third nation to win back-to-back World Cup titles and the first since Brazil in 1962.
- Its record with Kylian Mbappé in the starting XI would improve to 12-0-0.
- Mbappé would join Pelé as the only players to win multiple men’s World Cup titles before turning 24 years old.
- Hugo Lloris would become the first man to win multiple World Cups as captain.
- Argentina would join Germany as the most runner-up finishes at the men’s World Cup with four.
If Argentina wins:
- It would join Spain (2010) as the only teams to win the men’s World Cup after losing its opening match.
- It would become the fourth nation to win the World Cup at least three times.
- Lionel Messi would win his first World Cup
THE STATE OF THE GOLDEN BOOT
- Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé lead the Golden Boot race with five goals each, however, Mbappé is technically in first place because he has more non-penalty goals. Messi would have to score in Sunday’s final to take the lead.
- If Mbappé scores, he would become just the fifth man to score in multiple World Cup finals and the second to score in back-to-back finals.
- If Messi scores, he would become the first man to score in the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final at a single World Cup since the round of 16 was introduced in 1986.
- Julián Álvarez and Olivier Giroud both have four goals.
- If Messi or Giroud win the Golden Boot, they would be award’s oldest winner.