Topline
Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria scored in the first half as Argentina took a 2-0 lead against France in the first half of the 2022 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, in a game that is likely the 35-year-old Argentine legend’s last shot at winning the sport’s biggest title.
Lionel Messi of Argentina is seen prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between … [+]
Key Facts
Messi—widely considered the greatest of his generation—is facing a French attack led by 23-year-old Kylian Mbappé, considered by many to be the Argentine star’s heir apparent as the world’s top player.
Messi and Mbappé jointly lead the tournament’s goal-scoring charts with five goals each in addition to three and two assists respectively.
The final in Lusail will be a chance for Messi—who has won every other major trophy in the game—to overcome the disappointment of losing 1-0 to Germany in the 2014 final, where he missed an opportunity to score shortly after half-time.
History also beckons for the French team and Mbappé who seek to become the first team in six decades to win back-to-back World Cups—a feat last achieved by Pele’s Brazil.
Forbes Valuation
With an income of $130 Million this year, Messi was the top-ranked player on Forbes’ list of top-paid athletes of 2022.
This is a developing story.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/12/18/world-cup-final-argentina-and-lionel-messi-face-defending-champion-france/