MESSI WON THE WORLD CUP TITLE 🏆 IN THE BEST AND GREATEST WORLD CUP FINAL EVER , AGAINST MBAPPE

World Cup final winning team. Rafa Varane and Deo Opamacano have both recovered from the virus in the camp. The latter returning to start in place of Liverpool's Ibrahimo Kanate. Back two is Adrian Rabiot replacing Youssef Fafana in midfield where Antoine Griezmann has been a revelation as the goal maker. And then goal scorers Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe. His 24th birthday in two days time. He may have won two World Cups before it's here. Jermaine Jenas is alongside me and I know Jermaine you have been blown away by the noise particularly from away to our left those Argentina fans have been monumental. Well what an absolute pleasure it is to be here this evening and you're right Guy those Argentinian fans wow what a noise absolutely sensational but the French response wasn't bad was it and there's so much for us to look forward to on this pitch tonight so much talent on display just can't wait for it to get going now. The familiar countdown to kickoff only this time on the 18th of December in the desert it is the final countdown for South America for the first time since 2000. Di Maria, Depaul, Rodrigo Depaul it's deflected behind it came off Varane and it is an Argentina corner as the side in the sky blue and white got busy. Yet more good stuff from Argentina nice flick from Alvarez and Lloris watched it all the way into his clutches as Alexis McAllister let fly. Yeah well the French have started the game poorly too many loose touches Argentina does pick it up the ball McAllister and again from Messi and he tried a little lift in for Alvarez who was offside but he made Hugo Lloris register his first bit of work for the night. Depaul that's a better one up in the air but not away and Lloris has decided to stay at home and when he does come to get it he couldn't find a way through but is helped out by the referee's whistle. There was initially some really good defending by the French centre-halves I think it was Varane who got his head on it initially I know it was Rabiot just getting in a really important spot in the middle of the goals here we can see where he's going to be aiming right into that spot over the top of everybody came Olivier Giroud with a little too much vim and vigour he's given a free kick the referee let's have another look at it I mean Giroud just seems to perhaps could maybe do with a spell of passing but Teo Hernandez has been guilty more than once of losing possession pulled back by Depaul missed by Messi Di Maria got it at the wrong time right underneath it as it bounced up it's just bobbling in it again and now Messi couldn't work it all the way back through to Di Maria who then looked as though he might be offside and is and they're just a little sharper about their business Argentina than those in darker blue yeah I think Alvarez just thinks he can lead this one through to Di Maria those in front of him yet he's done well there Rabiot looked for the return Martinez has it yet first sighting of Mbappe looked sharp just couldn't quite get the ball back to him Rabiot Alvarez Di Maria lovely swivel of the hips and down goes Di Maria penalty Argentina got too close it looks clumsy you have to say you can see what Di Maria wants to do straight the minute he goes Biden belly a simple stroke of the ball from 12 yards out tops the lot biggest match of all for one of the greatest players of all well look at the focus the coolest man in the building when he needed to be a couple of steps with the one goal lead Messi trying to get away from up on the car though he couldn't do it Alvarez off the wrong part of the boot altogether it's well well wide of the target it would have been some effort you can see why I took it on it sat up nicely up goes Teo Hernandez and he's gone down on the edge of the box now the referee has given that one to Argentina and it looks like a clash of heads he's calling for immediate attention Hernandez is holding his ribs Messi down holding his head that's why it's a little worn inside Messi turns it out to Alvarez who gets it through and that's McAllister looking at Di Maria Argentina well on top in the World Cup final and all the boys of yesteryear are up celebrating that one well talk about a team and he's always a willing runner McAllister but can he find the pass is the question lovely little nick but it's that ball there that's the important one the final Di Maria he's the man that got this going for Argentina because he scored the winner in the Copa America final last year in a World Cup final with those fans singing behind you barge into the chest of McAllister courtesy of Koundé more of a collision given against Hernandez being explained to him now he's not in the mood to hear it again barely anything he's the substitute again and he's trying to do what he's been asked to do all of them the Messi on that occasion chasing chasing back on the mic the France substitutes have done pretty well since coming on and that was emphasized there by Kolo Moane there's just been a little bit more energy from him and from Turam on the other side running at Koundé it's killing them Koundé can put a star on his chart this time that ball has just been on all day just floated over Koundé's head here's the break no time for anything more but is it Argentina's time they are halfway there thanks to a Lionel Messi penalty the award of which will be debated and then a Di Maria finish after an Argentina flowing move down previous heights no further changes made during the half-time break so just those two changes that were made towards the end of the first half by Didier Deschamps he was not hanging around that's a good tackle Mateo Hernandez stops De Paul from delivering but can't then kick the ball in afterwards Mero was not letting anybody else get anywhere near that and here's Di Maria De Paul wants it over on the other side there is De Paul technique was good just straight at everything about the move was good as soon as they win it they're just on you back with Fernandez and Lloris had to come and get it and he came and got it a little belatedly but at least he got there well he can't believe it but Callister I think he almost stopped stopped by De Paul Rodrigo De Paul again and he's been stopped by the outstretched leg of Adrian Rabiot and he's going to get a yellow card I'm saying he got the ball make sure you did Di Maria slaloming his way at Koundé it's a lovely ball it's brilliant control but the finish is wide from Messi big tackle I think from Rabiot I think he just gets something on this before Messi strikes it brilliant from Di Maria again let's have a look as he's about to strike this Messi there little touch from Rabiot onto him that's right Di Maria advantage is signaled there's Alvarez and Lloris felt that he had to get down at that post he wasn't sure whether it was sneaking inside or not it's always going to be tough though from that angle to beat Lloris just in the chain it was Fernandez he's been back at Messi the whistle's already gone for the previous challenge and Rodrigo De Paul is copping a bit here yeah I think it was Mbappé just I think he's lost his head a little bit here just getting frustrated kicks out under Paul he acknowledges it though holds his hand up Veran fighting in the middle that's what they need won't get another corner though goal kick Argentina and a little bit of afters Romero involved he's been keen to make his mark all game he should do better he's there watches it all the way it comes off his shoulder of Mouhani look right off his right Messi Alvarez Alvarez plays it in Lloris gets there with the tackle McAllister left thumping the pitch in frustration Griezmann free kick France there Taliafico's challenge it's a decent combination nearly ball was intended for Turan better turned behind by Otamendi France corner just a few little early signs that France are doing something to make Messi that's Fernandez well they're dancing now McAllister initially with down in his left hand corner that was never going to go in though it needed much more power minutes left of this plus whatever's added Mbappé Mbappé with the snapshot just a little too much into it better though again De Paul took another bump from Camavinga and then a kick free kick Argentina and Rodrigo De Paul has soaked up a whole load in this match he's been the target he'll keep doing this as well anytime he gets kicked he'll go down Otamendi had the head start but he's been beaten now by Turan and Turan's down and that's going to be a penalty possibly a way back beckons for France that was Kolo Mouane who got goal side of Otamendi right Paul Paul from Otamendi and brilliant from possibly France's best player since coming on the pitch Kolo Mouane he should have just dealt with it straight away in a shirt probably bigger than this Mbappé to get the game back on and France are now in one big hurry he says the president with this game on and it's massive from Mbappé he goes to Acuna's on the way down the left unless he's on the way there too but he's been robbed by Coman there's a hunger about France the desire that's been missing Mbappé gets the return in a flash 90 seconds of the match France have come from 2-0 down to be level and it is their star their 10 who has the x-factor well they're out of it they were finished but when you've got world-class talent in your team you've always got a chance and that is sensational a one-two and a finish given in the ball here goes Messi Ugo Lloris eyes like a hawk Coman breezing past the challenges before being fouled just outside but the advantage is played Rabiot shot Martinez couldn't hold him it's brilliant from Coman so sharp I think referee's right to play on what a charge that is from Thuram Mbappé now looking for color Moane who couldn't stay high enough for long enough oh well these two Moane and Thuram have come to life they've been an absolute nuisance for France and the game for now is over but thankfully for those of us who love thrilling football at the highest level possible the eighth time that the world cup final to their fullbacks Messi must have been moving Lloris down it seemed in labored fashion but he got down and made absolutely sure and there's a little bit of debate about whether it's a corner or a goal kick and it is Acuna turns and gets away with it and looks to find Lautaro Martinez Martinez puts it wide claims a corner doesn't get it that's a brilliant run and the perfect ball the touch is fine Messi finds McAllister and Messi now finds Martinez what a block the follow-up from Montiel and another one this time Verratti in the way well he just injected some pace into the play Messi brilliant link up between him and Martinez but what it's just one stop from the Arc de Triomphe there's Messi Messi wants it again Lloris in the way was it off the line a riddle and said goal it is an all Argentinian all-in celebration Mbappé wants clarification Messi is in the middle of that pack he might have won the World Cup well I'll tell you when it is because Martinez is on side here but it's his pass here and he's on side Martinez nothing wrong with that comes out to Messi that goal should stand really good save from Hugo Lloris is clearly over the line Coleman there's Mbappé it was charged at and the referee says just outside hasn't he he pointed at the spot I'm sure he did he did and the arm came out for sure there is another change around here a France penalty surely not a time to be cute instinct will take over e3 this will surely lay claim to be the greatest World Cup final that's ever been seen we've just seen the president looking in the middle for Coleman he just needed a little bit more the tiniest more touch on it when I was the moment he just couldn't quite there's Martinez with the save the save that has kept Argentina in with a chance of world glory here they go again Martinez waits in the middle that had to be oh is that Kylian Mbappé with a World Cup final hat-trick with a display of mental strength from the penalty spot that you just have to marvel at 22 semifinals versus West Germany and in the 2006 final stepping up for the third time he's strided up there with so much confidence as it should be Mbappé will go first for France and Mbappé will score for France three times on the spot three times in the net it goes the right way this time Martinez gets his hand there as well I think never going to be the case with Lionel Messi and he rolls it in well that's stylish that's incredible Kingsley Coleman on the spot for France and Dybala does it after two in Argentina has to score why in fact mentally Paredes does oh Mouhani must score and he has that's been the way he's played the game ever since coming on we'll have that huge check of the champions of the football world an emperor we run out of terms to describe the greatest and look at that he's waited for this all of his life before becoming a professional this is the moment he will have dreamt about this is the moment I think we've all thought would be his destiny it's a moment no luckier week to be here to witness it and the emir of Qatar and Gianni Infantino will pass on the world cup to the world's best Lionel Messi the captain of Argentina might be borrowed for a bit by the rest of that squad but that is to cherish this means the world to Messi to Argentina to South America it is pins of the world's greatest game