La Albiceleste and Les Blues will clash in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at Lusail Stadium on Sunday, December 18. While France will look to clinch their second consecutive World Cup title, Argentina will give everything to end Lionel Messi’s last dance at the World Cup by taking football’s biggest prize home.

Argentina has not lifted the coveted trophy since Diego Maradona led them to it in 1986. They came close to winning it again when Messi and co reached the final of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but an extra-time goal by German substitute Mario Goetze meant that the trophy went to Munich instead of Buenos Aires. 

Also read: Lionel Messi vs Karim Benzema in World Cup final? Didier Deschamps smiles at reporter’s question

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has announced that the final at Lusail on Sunday will be his last FIFA World Cup game. Will he be able to lift the trophy in his last dance? The answer lies with his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe and the formidable French side.

Argentina vs France: Head to head

* Argentina and France have played each other 12 times on the international stage

* Their last FIFA World Cup encounter was in 2018, when France knocked out Argentina 4-3 in the Round of 16

* They met for the first time in the 1930 FIFA World Cup – the first edition of the tournament, where Argentina won by a goal

* Before 2018, their last World Cup encounter was in 1978. France  lost 2-1 to Argentina in it

Also read: Croatia vs Morocco FIFA World Cup 2022: Head-to-head, stats, predicted line up and formations

Argentina vs France: Stats

* Argentina have come out on top in their previous encounters winning six out of 12 matches

* France have managed to win only thrice while three other meetings between them have ended in draws

* France have scored a total of 11 goals against Argentina while La Albiceleste have scored 13

Argentina vs France: Predicted line-ups

Argentina: Martinez (GK); Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Paredes, Fernandez Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez

Formation: 4-4-2

France: Lloris (GK); Kounde, Varane, Konate, T. Hernandez; Rabiot, Tchouameni; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud

Formation: 4-2-3-1