Will Lionel Messi finally taste World Cup success with his Argentinian teammates, or will the French make it back-to-back victories?
Follow the action of the final in Qatar with our live blog.
Key events
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Argentina vs France at Lusail Stadium
HALF TIME: Argentina 2 – 0 France
By Dan Colasimone
Key Event
Sensational half of football in the World Cup final from the South Americans. France barely had a peek at goal, and often seemed overwhelmed by Argentina’s slick movement and in-your-face defending.
Mbappe has barely been seen and Messi has been involved in everything. Di Maria, too has been a gamebreaker on the left wing. The perfect half tactically for Argentina.
What can Deschamps do to arrest this?
Enzo Fernandez is booked
By Dan Colasimone
45+7′
Tchouaméni went streaking down the right wing and the Argentinian midfielder was forced to foul.
45+6′
By Dan Colasimone
France have looked a little more precise since the changes.
The remaining players on the pitch seem to have realised they are close to throwing away the opportunity of a lifetime.
Double change for France!
By Dan Colasimone
Deschamps is not waiting for the break.
Giroud and Dembele are coming off on 40 minutes.
Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani come on.
I like this from France, don’t wait for the game to leave you.
And Kolo Muani immediately crunchs Mac Allister and gives away a foul. He’ll need to be careful after that.
Critical moments
By Dan Colasimone
39′
These final few minutes before half time are absolutely critical now. Argentina are well on top. Can they score a third and take this game away from France?
I’m sure Deschamps will have some ideas at half time, but can France make it with hopes still intact?
GOAAAAL ARGENTINA! Brilliant counter attack!
By Dan Colasimone
Key Event
Di Maria nails it after Messi, De Paul and Mac Allister put together a slick move.
Immense from Argentina to ge that two goal lead.
Di Maria is holding back tears after scoring a career-defining goal.
Messi things
By Dan Colasimone
Argentina on top now
By Dan Colasimone
32′
Messi is finding space to gallop through the middle, using his hip swivels to throw off backtracking defenders.
Di Maria is often free on the right but his final ball into the box hasn’t been 100 per cent on the money just yet.
Dangerous days for France though.
Messi wins a corner
By Dan Colasimone
28′
After taking a break on the sideline after copping a knock to the head, Messi scoots down the right wing and wins a corner.
The corner is decent but the ref pulls it up, not entirely sure why.
Argentina good for their lead
By Dan Colasimone
25′
While not completely threatening France, Argentina have been the more positive side early. It’s France’s style to sit back and absorb pressure before punishing teams on the counter-attack, but now they find themselves a goal behind. They’ll have to do a bit more than that.
GOOOOAAL ARGENTINA! Messi from the penalty spot!
By Dan Colasimone
Key Event
Calmly slotted from Messi! He’s not always the greatest penalty taker, but he has three in this World Cup.
Argentina lead the World Cup final 1-0!
PENALTY ARGENTINA
By Dan Colasimone
22′
Di Maria goes down in the box after a clip on the ankle from Dembele.
Not many complaints from France.
It followed a long build up from Argentina.
Messi steps up.
Hernandez fouled in a dangerous spot
By Dan Colasimone
19′
Just outside the Argentina area after some good combination play with Mbappe down the left.
Griezmann takes it and Giroud flies high to head over the bar. But he’s penalised for a foul.
Di Maria fires over!
By Dan Colasimone
17′
France turn it over in their own half and Messi and Molina combine passes down the right. The cut back goes behind Messi, fortunately for France, but Di Maria sweeps in from the left – but the shot comes from his (far) weaker right foot and goes well over.
Mbappe is around
By Dan Colasimone
14′
France make their first little foray forward, with Mbappe getting a couple of touches on the left edge of the box.
Argentina close it down well.
Then down the other end, Messi gets half a sight of goal and the crowd gets excited. He slides a pass instead of shooting and France shut it down.
Again, I’m suprised at how many touches in space Messi is getting.
Messi breaks another record
By Dan Colasimone
Lloris has taken a knock
By Dan Colasimone
11′
The France goalkeeper copped a whack from Romero as he defended that last Argentina raid, and he’s stayed down quite some time with some sore ribs by the look. He gets up gingerly now.
It’s 0-0.
De Paul’s shot is deflected wide!
By Dan Colasimone
8′
Argentina breaks nicely out of defence, with Messi playing the through ball down the middle.
Di Maria crossed and De Paul tries his luck but it’s deflected wide.
France do enough to deal with the subsequent corner.
Argentina looking strong early, though no genuine worries for France.
Mac Allister with a shot on target
By Dan Colasimone
5′
He thumped it from distance but it was straight into the arms of Lloris.
An indication, though, of Argentina’s early dominance with the ball. France a little more loose at that back than you’d expect, with Messi getting plenty of touches.
Di Maria has showed up on the left early on as well, which is a surprise.