By the numbers: Argentina-France in the 2022 World Cup final
The 22nd World Cup final is set to take place in Qatar as Argentina – No. 3 in FIFA’s World Rankings – will do battle with world No. 4 France.
Holders France are directed by Didier Deschamps, the third player in World Cup history to have won the title as both player and coach. Deschamps was a star midfielder on the 1998 champions and guided the French to the 2018 title in Russia.
Brazil’s Mario Zagallo (as a player in 1958 and 1962, as a manager in 1970) and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer (as a player in 1974, as a manager in 1990) are the only other men to pull off the feat.
Argentina is led by Lionel Scaloni who at 44 is 10 years younger than his counterpart. Scaloni led Argentina to the 2021 Copa América title so he is not some greenhorn.
World Cup Final By the Numbers
1998
The last time a defending World Cup champion reached the final occurred 24 years ago. A Zinedine Zidane-led France defeated 1994 winners Brazil in the final in Paris.
1962
The year when Brazil won back-to-back World Cup titles, the last team to do so. Defending champion France would become the third team to win consecutive titles should they defeat Argentina on Sunday. Italy won two straight titles in 1934 (over Czechoslovakia) and 1938 (over Hungary).
26
The record number of World Cup matches Lionel Messi will have played in after Sunday’s final. The Argentine captain is currently tied with Germany’s legendary Lothar Matthäus at 25. Next on the list are Miroslav Klose (Germany) with 24 followed by Paolo Maldini (Italy) with 23.
12
The number of times France and Argentina have played heading into Sunday’s final. Argentina holds the edge with a 6-3-3 record, though the French won the most recent meeting, a 4-3 victory in the round of 16 at Russia 2018.
11
South American teams have faced off against European teams in 10 previous World Cup finals. The Argentina-France match will be the 11th such final. Brazil is 5-1 against European sides while Argentina is 2-2. France is 1-0, handing Brazil its only loss in a South America-Europe match-up by winning the 1998 World Cup at home with an easy 3-0 victory.
7
The most goals scored in a World Cup final came in 1958 when Brazil routed Sweden 5-2 to claim its first July Rimet trophy.
5
The number of goals tallied in Qatar by joint scoring leaders Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, club teammates at Paris St. Germain and rivals in Sunday’s final. Argentina’s Julián Álvarez and France’s Olivier Giroud follow in second with 4 goals.
3
The number of stars on the jersey above the national team badge for Sunday’s winner as both France and Argentina are aiming to hoist the World Cup trophy for a third time. France is 2-1 in World Cup finals while Argentina is 2-2 in the ultimate game.
2
The number of own-goals scored in Qatar heading into the weekend. Morocco’s Nayef Aguerd and Argentina’s Enzo Fernández are the unlucky pair.
dark. Next. Four who could play the hero in Sunday's final
0
The fewest goals scored in a final came in 1994 when Brazil and Italy played to a scoreless draw with the South Americans coming away with a 3-2 win in the penalty shoot-out.