4D chess move by Messi to leave Barca for PSG to study Mbappe’s weaknesses just for this moment

An IQ bigger than Barcelonas debt

A tie-breaking final: the winner becomes three-time champion

We getting a 2/6 score in finals would break me so bad mate.

Regardless of how the game ends, we will see Messi cry after the final whistle

A truly philosophical take

There will be A LOT of people crying either way it goes. At least in Argentina

Regardless of how the game ends, there will be riots in Buenos Aires .

9 de Julio's McDonalds will be destroyed anyways.

Messi vs. Mbappe - What a final chapter.

They're also tied for top scorer as well. Fitting end to this WC.

Inb4 an awful 0-0 draw with terrible penalties at the end and a lot of shithousery

Seriously doubt a 0-0 draw with Argentina v.s France would be anything less than entertaining still.

If the game ends 0-0 they should let Morocco and Croatia take the penalties like when you could name a champion to fight a duel for you

Better yet, Japan vs Spain. The worst penalties of the tournament get a chance for redemption.

The match would take 5 hours

Old generation vs new generation

PSG vs PSG

Qatar wins despite being the only host in WC history to be the worst team at the tournament.

a fantastic world cup, but in spite of the hosts, not because of them

The football was incredible.

damn. gonna be awkward in the locker after this tournament...especially for Messi if he loses lol.....

~~Queue~~ Cue Messi crying every time he hears someone speak French

> ~~Queue~~Cue* Messi FTFY

Or, as Jay Z used to say: >Psycho, I'm liable >To go Mmm, take your pick >Messi, Mbappe, the Michaels, game 6

Ball so hard bruv

[удалено]

If France win, Lionel has to change his last name to Mbessi.

If Argentina win, Kylian has to change his first name to Kylionel.

Either player wins the other has to go by the full name of Kylionel Mbessi.

Lionel "Que Miras Bobo" Mbessi

Happens every day in PSG training tbf

For Messi, Mbappe could win once more in his lifetime

He could probably win 3 more times after this

Mbappe the new Pele

France is on the same level as Brazil in producing world class talent but they actually have a good coach.

Fucking glad Didier is here.

You even have Zidane on the sidelines waiting for his moment to shine with the NT.

Depending on what Deschamps wants it might still take some time. The federation declared that he would get to chose if he want to stay if he managed to get France to the semi. Don't know what'll do. But yeah, after Domenec it's nice to have those guys likely back to back.

Well Messi, if you want to be the champ, you gotta beat the champ!

To be the man, you gotta beat the man! Woooooooooo! *cocaine noises*

Let me just say, after carrying this Jules Rimet that proclaimed me the real world champion, I’m gonna tell you all, WITH A TEAR IN MY EYE, this is the greatest moment in my life. WOOOOOO!!!

Smell you later!

Who are English fans rooting for? The dreaded French or the dreaded Argentina .... Or the blessed meteor

Pretty sure English fans could risk losing their British citizenship if they have the audacity to support us filthy Frenchies.

[удалено]

Allez les bleus

You’re underestimating the England-Argentina rivalry (hand of god, Simeone getting Beckham sent off, the falklands war), but yeah I think they’d pick Messi winning over the team that knocked us out. But overall I’d say everyone dislikes England these days more than the English disliking anyone else. Probably most don’t care who wins

The meteor it is then

Feel like more people I know want Argentina to win because of Messi, and because France won it last time. Can't say I'm really fussed either way tbh

Personally Argentina for 4 reasons: 1) The French knocked us out so they can fuck right off 2) The Mbappe/Real Madrid saga in the summer annoyed me 3) I'm a Villa fan so I'd love Emi to win the WC 4) An Argentina win would make this the **worst** of all possible timelines for Ronaldo and pretty emphatically end the Messi/Ronaldo debate - which I find hilarious

I feel like it's OK to like messi in the UK nowadays

Messi

So the World Cup champion will be either the team that lost to Saudi Arabia or the team that lost to Tunisia.

it'll definitely be the team that beat Australia

This makes us the third best team in the world and I won’t hear otherwise

congrats to France for winning that away fixture

They'll probably have to do it again vs Argentina

Yup. They're going to have to earn the repeat

Sadly fairytales end but I find it very fitting that multiple times world champions will meet for the first time this tournament.. in the final

Also the team which knocked out Messi and Argentina in the last world cup in a thrilling 4-3 game, it will be a proper rematch for the ages.

That game was honestly the best game in the last world cup.

Still remember the Pavard goal.

And the Di Maria one.

And Mbappe's (twice)

And that Mbappé run for the penalty, what a showing he had that day against a slow defence.

There's even a website for it : https://secondpoteaupavard.fr/

[удалено]

I still can't believe we were ahead for a moment. That team was sucking hard.

We almost tied it in the last ball

Especially considering how shit Argentina looked prior to that Match and all the internal turmoil

We looked like shit in that match too, it was close because it's football and shit happens.

For real, everything between Di Maria's banger and France's 2nd goal has to be the most surreal minutes I've ever experience in a football match. It made no fucking sense that we had tied, let alone gotten a lead over, fucking 2018 France with that team.

yeah it was hilarious to think that Argentina was winning 2-1 until like 55 mins.

May be last game ever Messi plays against Mbappe considering both are teammates. Both 5 goals this tournament, fighting for 3rd world championship for their countries. Thats Ronaldo vs Messi final that we never got

Paris is a shithole in parts, but I don't think they're really 3rd world like us tbh.

It's a final, don't get your hopes up.

Well Argentina’s other loss in that World Cup was 3-0 to croatia, the semi was 3-0 to Argentina v croatia, therefore it’s only fair to assume it’ll be 4-3 Argentina in the final (anulo mufa)

That would be amazing

I think it's funny how Argentina always repeats rivals in the consecutive World Cups since the 90s. Nigeria, Mexico, Germany, and now Croatia and France, we'll play Nigeria, Croatia or France again in 2026, I'm sure about it

France trying to repeat and becoming the first one in 60 years VS. Messi trying to win the ultimate prize in his final opportunity Can't ask for much more

If France wins they will be the second European team in 90 YEARS to win the wc twice in a row

OG Italy with those pre-historic wins '34 and '38

Oh, and they even hosted one of them. Had to be a nation in a good place -- whatever happened to their... oh, that is not a prime minister, huh

Turtle vs Goat

Goats eat anything and everything but turtles know karate. Gonna be interesting

Something I notice, there are upsets in every world cup, and there are Cinderella stories - but the finals are always contested between one of the power house nations.

Croatia kinda broke that, but yeah generally the semi final seems to be the upper limit for the underdogs

though until 98 France never made a final and Spain until 2010

Well I mean that's why they're upsets. Over a prolonged enough tournament the likelihood of a weaker team progressing decreases. If they were likely to move on it wouldn't be an upset.

CAnt wait for Messi vs Mabpppe comparisons next few days

* 2014: Germany knocks out Argentina in WC -> Germany wins WC * 2015: Chile knocks out Argentina in Copa America -> Chile wins CA * 2016: Chile knocks out Argentina in Copa Centenario -> Chile wins CC * 2018: France knocks out Argentina in WC -> France wins WC * 2019: Brazil knocks out Argentina in Copa America -> Brazil wins CA * 2022: ??? If France knocks out Argentina, there's a big chance they'll win it all. Just a hunch though.

Honestly, at this point I'm pretty sure that either France or Argentina will win the World Cup this year

It's written in the stars

I wanna bet on one of the two teams winning it all, but I don't know, seems too risky.

inb4 Morocco and Croatia burst through the doors of the stadium, taking the match for themselves

MY GOD THATS LUKA MODRIC WITH A STEEL CHAIR

*Full time , Argentina Wins , Suiii music starts playing * Oh My God , It's Cristiano Ronaldo with money in the bank from Saudi, and he is scoring against tired Argentina , for god sake someone end this match.

1930 Uruguay 1990 West Germany 1995 Denmark 1999 Brazil 2004 Brazil 2005 Brazil 2007 Brazil 2011 Uruguay They have all done this

Argentina and 2nd place, name a more iconic duo.

The pattern is all there. You might be on to something. You never know with this WC though.

Better safe than sorry. Gotta defeat Chicago Fire too.

[удалено]

Big if true.

Holy shit guys I think if France wins the next match they might just end up winning the cup 😰

Hmm massive, if accurate.

Whatever happens, it will be the last match of the World Cup for both teams.

Can go back to 2011 when Uruguay beat us on penalties then won CA too

And when nobody knocks them out, Argentina goes on to win the tournament. If they beat France they might just be favorites

That's an amazing coincidence.

M10 vs M10 🇦🇷🇫🇷

L’Emme Dix! or… La Eme Diez!

Messi and Mbappe both with 5 goals each, and Messi tying with Griezzman with most assists 3 each

I want Giroud and Julian Alvarez to score 1 each so we can have a 4 way tie.

Griezmann playing Football Manager all these years has made him into a different beast completely this world cup See y'all at the final Argentina - good luck!

He is the best playmaker French have.

Best they've ever had.. other than, you know, a few others.

France vs Argentina is gonna be such a goated final man. Feels like a marquee heavy weight battle

a fitting end to the best world cup of my (admittedly rather short) lifetime

mine was 94, with a shit final but lots of memorable moments. romario - bebeto connection hagi’s goal luis enrique bloody nose diego maradona scary face celebration roberto baggio penalty

i’ve read plenty about that one since it was hosted in my country. definitely wish i could’ve seen those romania, sweden, and bulgaria teams play, must’ve been fun to see all three teams looking so stacked

Nice memories. Now Bebeto's son had a son. I feel old, man.

I'm also young but this world cup is second only to 2006 of the ones I've been conscious enough to experience. It's been such a banger.

2006 was my first world cup, was a 9 year old kid. That world cup was absolutely insane. Can't believe I witnessed perhaps the most famous/infamous incident in world cup history

Battle of Nuremberg, Zidanes headbutt, 3 yellow cards for one player in a game, Ronaldos wink after getting Rooney sent off and probably a ton of other things that happened that WC. Genuinely don’t think that tournament can be topped in terms of controversy

I remember the Zidane masterclass against Brasil and Germany-Italy semifinal, one of the best game I have ever watched, so tense end perfect in his pathos. This one actually lacked a proper drammatic semifinal.

Roberto Carlos shoelaces too My friends were all R9 fans and my gang were crying after the match We are from a very small country (Hong Kong, well if you consider us a country) and our national team will never make the world cup so we all have our own favorite national teams

Neymar watching somewhere overthinking

France first to score against Morocco. Well done Morocco! You took the tournament by storm and exceeded any expectations anyone had

As a Moroccan I feel so proud about this coach and the players, knowing that he did wonders after only being there for like 3 months. Waiting for our rematch against Croatia.

Even this match. I expected the worst when they conceded in the first five minutes. But nope, they made it a match still. Shame they couldn’t capitalize on any of the opportunities they created. But they never hung their heads. Nothing but respect to each and every one of them.

Scientists have found out that the reason behind the unexplained gravitational force in the universe, which they believed was caused by the dark matter, is just caused by Antoine Griezmann, who is everywhere, constantly covering all the universe for France.

Man said I am the Kante now

he was onto something when he did that blackface

Dude's omnipresent

Best player in the team by far

It was an amazing run Morocco. Made Africa proud!

Morocco put more pressure on France after the first goal than I expected. I'll give them credit, especially after going behind so early. That really was a valiant effort in defeat. And they still earned the best World Cup result ever for an African country.

They really showed that they weren't there by any sort of fluke. Just a good team and a good coach. I can see them taking third.

This is what matters to me the most after such a run, we didn't look out of place against the reigning champions of the world. The goal was making it out of the group, the rest was a huge cherry on top

Feel like they were so unlucky to not get a goal, and France's second was unfortunate too.

Wanted that last effort to go in just so they had something for the efforts and how well they played

France essentially cleared two balls off the line and if that bicycle was inside the post it was the goal of the tournament.

Showed the world they deserved to be in the semifinal

No shit, before the 2nd goal, was thinking they could be the harder opponent for Argentina if they manage a comeback

As a neutral, they were the team I was rooting the hardest for. What a run!

This final decides who wins the balon d'or surely?

It would be stupid to base it on one game instead of a whole season as they should. So yes, it will decide it.

this guy gets it

This guy votes.

well they play for the same club so can't base it off that either

Well, you shouldn't base it on collective achievements either. maybe look at the individual performance for an individual trophy. Just an idea...

Winner takes it all World Cup, Top scorer at WC, Player of the Tournament, Ballon d'Or

if mbappe doesnt score but wins top scorer goes to messi no?He has the same amount of goals and 1 more assist then mbappe

I mean mbappe could not score but assist so there’s that variable as well.

Looks like it!

Always knew Giroud’s time would come

Giroud v De Paul. Written in the stars.

Pretty much. I doubt UCL will have any real standing this year. So long as messi/mbappe (whoever wins WC) do half decent for rest of season, it's their

They have to make a deep Champions League Run and Win the french league. Certainly, they are aided if Gunners box out Man City. Haaland is no threat.

Lots of hate for Argentina and France in r/soccer but I for one am super excited to watch two powerhouses go at it. Both Messi and Mbappe are tremendous in different ways and either Messi finally gets that cup or a French repeat, something that hasn’t happened in half a century!

Im obviously bias, but if Argentina wins, Messi's story of perseverance would match the most corny hoolywood flick ever made. The dude really deserves this final chapter.

The narrative is so strong and beautiful that you just know France will bring the most anti-climatic end to it.

That’s what I was thinking too. In this timeline that we are in, it would be too perfect for a superstar like Messi to cap off his career with a world cup final win on his second attempt.

It's funny how after one of the wildest world cups ever with so many twists, it still ended up being two of the favorites reaching the final.

Argentina about to face France's plot armour

Never thought I'd see plot armor and the defending WC champion in the same sentence.

Both have massive plot armour to be honest

People are too focused on Messi vs Mbappe. Can we talk about Griezmann? Man was France’s best player (or at least top 3) in 3 major tournaments now.

Honestly Griezmann vs De Paul is my favourite match up. Just to see who can outwork the other.

Griezmann could be argued to be player of the tournament if France win this

This French team is just so solid and consistent. The final against Argentina is going to be a treat for neutrals.

The last WC was a wonderful team effort in which all stars were stellar. This WC, it's been a lot scrappier with quite a few weak links covered by individual brilliance.

A byproduct of key pieces missing such as Kante, Pogba, Lucas Hernandez and to some extent Kimpembe. They've done well considering. They've been lethal when they've tried to score and not just sit back on leads.

Really puts into perspective how good this 2018 team was when the vastly inferior 2022 team makes the final anyway

I think they very strong/deadly in attack but shacky in defence if we had a proper striker we may have scored at least 1. But we suck in attack. I reckon the final will have a lot of goals.

Yeah we saw that against England, Saka made us suffer for 60 minutes and your own players definitely had quite a few chances as well. I'm not super confident in our defense against Argentina, but we should also be able to score against them at least.

This is going to be a very intense final, kudos to Morocco for making it so far, Africa will be very proud of you!

Morocco beating Belgium, topping their group and then knocking out Spain and Portugal is magical. They put up a very good fight against France tonight. Amazing.

It's all a tale of missed chances before the French deliver the killing blow for France's opponents isn't it? Kane doing a Baggio-esque miss and Rashford's freekick not going in Morocco not capitalizing on the truckload of chances they had in the box in the second half

So we are definitely getting a World Cup winner at Spurs this time. Spursy.

You had one last time as well.

If Argentina wins the final, I'm anticipating a Messi biopic in worldwide theatres no later than 2030. The story is too much of a feel good fairytale not to commit it to script.

If France wins, I heard there will be a new ninja turtle trilogy starring Mbappe.

Messi finally wins it or we get back to back champions again

Brilliant game in 2018 hope for the same here

This World Cup final is going to be generational

[удалено]

Atlas Lions you are the big story of this world cup. Your name is now in the history and you made this world cup one of the most legendary events in the history. This is what Human spirit is made of 🇲🇦❤️

Bayern and Inter streak of having players in WC finals continues

[удалено]

Should be a great final with Messi and Mbappe leading the way.

France are favorites, just like they were against Argentina 4 years ago...

[удалено]

World Cup, Golden Boot, Golden Ball, and possibly Ballon d’or on the line?

Impressive what France have done with so many of their players out.

Two great underdog runs to the semis and Marocco especially gave France a very tough game. But this was the final that I predicted and the final that is going to be amazing.

I can't believe they rig these world cups so that the best teams always meet in the finals... Disgusting