Will the 2022 tournament be remembered as Messi's World Cup or can this famous France side stand shoulder to shoulder with that great back-to-back Brazil team of the Pele era?
Either way, history will be made at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday afternoon as both France and Argentina look to notch a third World Cup triumph on their international goalpost.
France have won their two (1998, 2018) since Argentina last lifted the iconic trophy back in 1986, and while it was footballing deity Diego who emotionally embraced that most priceless and precious lump of gold on that occasion, all eyes are on Messi’s last stand in today’s decider.
Lionel’s legacy already assured; however, the World Cup is the final piece of the jigsaw to complete a remarkable career, and to bring the trophy back to Buenos Aires would also complete the circle to stand side by side with the inimitable Maradona.
Footballing folklore, 36 years in the mythologising, leads us to believe that Diego did it all on his own back in ’86, and while a younger version of his current self tried, and failed, to mimic the master in 2014, there is no doubt that 2022 Messi needs this one to be a team effort.
"Five finals" since that remarkable opening-day defeat to Saudi Arabia, there was every chance that Argentina would arrive at this juncture with little left in the tank, and yet, Lionel Scaloni’s side step into the arena later today with a clean bill of health, and not one player ruled out through suspension.
Mexico first, followed by Poland; two group game wins secured safe passage through to the last-16 and then a commanding lead against Australia re-established their contender status ahead of the quarter-finals.
But in truth, they looked a little shaky in the closing stages against the team from Down Under, and while they again enjoyed a comfortable lead in the last-eight encounter with the Dutch, they almost blew it in the final stages as Netherlands scored two late goals to bring the game to extra time.
That penalty shoot-out restored confidence and rebuilt belief going into the semi-finals and perhaps we saw the best version of the current Copa America champions as they displayed a fine team performance – guided by the inspirational Messi, of course – to take another two-goal lead in the quest to reach the final, before learning from previous performances to finish off Croatia, scoring their third goal with over 20 minutes remaining.
But despite those five wins in succession, the big question remains as to whether Messi’s Argentina are good enough to defeat the reigning world champions?
France, like Argentina, have five victories and one defeat on their path to the final, and while they also beat Australia and Poland at various stages in the tournament, they have perhaps had a tougher run-in, defeating a very strong England, and the conquerors of Belgium, Spain and Portugal, Morocco.
There is no doubt that Argentina have been improving in every game since that shock defeat to Saudi Arabia, and even if you go back to the first half of that game, the South American champions arrived at the tournament probably looking the most confident and complete unit, just picking up from where they left off last year, while continuing on a remarkable unbeaten run.
Argentina will take the confidence of that Copa triumph and look to channel the winning performance, as they beat Brazil 1-0 in the final at the Maracana, to take into the showdown with the French.
While Argentina have Messi, France have "tea and ginger and honey" as they face their stiffest test of the month-long sojourn in the Gulf State, for Deschamps' men have been fighting a virus inside the camp and while it accounted for a couple in the semi-finals, there are lingering doubts over the fitness of a few heading into the decider.
Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano were both ruled out of the Morocco clash, while fellow centre-halves, Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate, have since received medical attention and it will have been an anxious few days for the coach to see who will actually be available to start.
Expect Argentina to take the game to France in the early stages, however, they will also have to set out their stall to cope with the real threat from the pacey attacking unit of their opposition, who will also be keen to set the tempo.
Messi will be under severe surveillance with France unlikely to give the maestro a blade of grass to himself in the opening exchanges, and he will surely be forced out wide to look for space to exploit.
The battle to control the middle of the park points to France dominance based on what we have seen so far in this tournament with Aurelien Tchouameni – arguably the player of the tournament – and Rabiot looking a formidable partnership, ably aided by the energetic Antoine Griezmann, happy to put in a shift when out of possession, and full-backs Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez willing to squeeze the space inside when required.
No such illness issues with the game-changers in attack, it would appear, as Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud and the aforementioned Griezmann have been unaffected by the sickness and they will be looking to continue to stamp their authority on proceedings as they attempt to make it two in a row for France.
All three started the final four years ago, and the attacking unit remains as potent as ever, with Griezmann pulling the strings as Giroud and Mbappe grab the glory.
Argentina have been quite solid in defence throughout the tournament, however, they were not really tested through the middle against Croatia, and they revealed some fatal flaws against Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands when both sides opted for a direct approach.
Griezmann is the closest thing that France have when trying to compare with Messi, and while Argentina have nothing remotely like the explosive Mbappe, their front men have been building momentum throughout the latter stages.
None more so than two-goal hero Julian Alvarez who will be brimming with confidence coming into this final, while Alexis MacAllister and Enzo Fernandez have proved instrumental linking midfield and attack to allow Messi to shine.
France also are far from the finished article, most notably in defence, as they have only kept one clean sheet from six games, however, the introduction of Ibrahima Konate alongside Raphael Varane in the heart of the defence for the Morocco game may just be the final piece of the 2022 jigsaw.
Deschamps made some big calls in the semi-final, unwilling to risk anyone not at 100%, knowing that his strength in depth and pragmatic tactics could be implemented with the least amount of disruption - the polar opposite to Morocco in that clash as it happened.
And should the former captain and 1998 World Cup winner have every player available for selection, he will send his side out with complete confidence of winning the match and securing the first defence of the trophy since Brazil in 1962.
Argentina are set to have the crowd on their side with a huge travelling support in attendance coupled with the neutrals of the world who want the fairytale finish to what has been, in truth, a horror story World Cup regarding off field public relations.
And while Scaloni's side will take confidence from several aspects of their performances thus far to believe that they can match the French throughout today's final, the roar of the crowd will only get them so far when it comes to trying to contain the speed of Mbappe, the skill of Griezmann and the strength of Giroud.
The Argentina players maintain that they want to win it for Messi, and if they can keep themselves in with a shout heading into the final stages of this afternoon's decider, perhaps a moment of Messi magic will win it for Argentina.
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