4 players apart from Messi and Mbappe who could make the difference in the final

The first World Cup final in the Middle East is set.

Argentina thumped Croatia and France broke Morocco’s hearts to set up a final where the two best players in the world will go head-to-head to etch their countries’ names as the winners in the World Cup history books for the third time.

When Diego Maradona lifted the World Cup in 1986, Lionel Messi wasn’t born. Thirty-six years later, Maradona’s true successor has the opportunity to not only surpass his legacy but also end his career as the undisputed greatest player of all time.

Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, has already been a part of World Cup success, but if the 23-year-old manages to lead France to a second successive victory – a feat not seen since Brazil’s glory days of the 1950s-60s – he could disrupt the GOAT discourse altogether.

World Cup final hero role yet to be filled

The narratives don’t just end there. The PSG teammates are fighting for the Golden Boot (both level at 5 goals each), the Golden Ball, and the Ballon d’Or.

However, focusing on just these two superstars ahead of Sunday’s clash would be unfair to the contributions of other stars in both camps. As such, let’s shed some light on players who have been brilliant so far and might influence the conclusion of the final show at Lusail Stadium.

Antoine Griezmann

The last time these two sides met Griezmann opened the scoring in France’s 4-3 win in the Round of 16 match at Russia 2018.

The Frenchman is yet to score a goal in Qatar. But apart from that 6-yard area, he has made his presence felt all over the pitch.

From finding Mbappe and Giroud in the final third (most chances created in the competition) to dropping deep to help his defence and start counter-attacks, the Atletico de Madrid man has popped up at the right places at the right time throughout the tournament.

Argentina must keep track of him in and out of possession to win the midfield battle.

Raphael Varane

The Manchester United centre-back was an absolute rock at the back in his side’s win over England and showed his vision with the ball in the build-up to France’s opening goal against Morocco.

But Varane’s most crucial contribution has been the calmness and leadership he has shown to make things easy for his relatively inexperienced partners, Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate.

The French defence will need to maintain their composure more than ever against Messi and company. Fortunately for Didier Deschamps, there’s no better player to handle the pressure of playing in the big games than the four-time Champions League winner and 2018 World Cup champion.

Enzo Fernandez

The Benfica midfielder has been immense for Argentina in the middle of the park ever since his inclusion in Lionel Scaloni’s starting XI.

From starting Argentina’s build-up by receiving the ball from centre-backs to progressing the play upfield, and even testing goalkeepers with his ferocious ball-striking, Fernandez has been outstanding at both ends of the pitch.

Most importantly, his passing ability from deep has allowed Messi to remain higher up the pitch and maximise his influence in the final third.

Julian Alvarez

Another Argentine who has slotted perfectly into Scaloni’s setup without taking much time is this Manchester City youngster.

Alvarez’s off-ball movements have brilliantly complemented Messi’s style of play. Through his aggressive runs, he creates space for the main man in the middle by pushing the opposing centre-backs deep, while his quick decision-making during transitions has helped Argentina exploit the gaps behind.

Messi and Alvarez have been involved in 11 of Argentina’s 12 goals. If France allow the duo to link up comfortably once again, it would be near impossible for Hugo Lloris to keep a clean sheet.