In the football galaxy, this is a moment in history.

Like a handover, the Argentinian with seven Ballons d'Or wants to win at 35 the only trophy he lacks, when the French prodigy aims for a second coronation in a row before his 24th birthday, like the Brazilian Pelé in 1962.

Before this shock in high spheres, the day of Saturday offers Morocco, surprise team of the tournament, a last orbit against Croatia for the third place (4:00 p.m.).

But in Doha, eyes are already on Sunday's final.

Euphoric, the Albiceleste sees thousands of fans flocking to the emirate, many of whom are still looking for a ticket, between worry and anger.

France, it is worried about its world champions, overtaken by a mysterious virus which has put on the side, in turn, five potential holders.

Kingsley Coman, joker N.1 in attack, is affected like Ibrahima Konaté and Raphaël Varane, the defensive hinge of the semi-final against Morocco (2-0).

All three suffer to varying degrees from a viral syndrome that management refuses to name.

"A little flu", as Randal Kolo Muani slips it?

Or a simple "cold snap", as hammered by several sources close to the Blues?

With one day less rest than the Argentines after the semi-finals, the situation is complex.

"Perfect Cocktail"

In the mildness of December in Qatar, the fever will spread on Sunday in the spans of the Lusail stadium.

The brand new enclosure of nearly 90,000 seats symbolizes the excess of the gas emirate, the first Middle Eastern host country of the World Cup targeted by many non-sporting controversies.

A World Cup souvenir shop in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 16, 2022 © Luis ROBAYO / AFP

"It's a 50/50 final," remarks Mario Kempes, 1978 world champion with Argentina.

The 1998 French winner, Youri Djorkaeff, continues: "There are all the ingredients. The Argentinian fans are incredible and then there is the grinta, the quality, the heart, the effort, the panache of the Blues... When we take the two teams and put them in a + shaker +, we get the perfect cocktail.

The "cocktail" is alcohol-free - the sale is strictly regulated in Qatar -, but not tasteless: the Mbappé-Messi duel alone makes fans of football, sports, history and statistics salivate.

The two superstars, who team up under the Qatari banner at Paris SG, share the lead in the World Cup scorer rankings before the final, with five units.

The winner will go straight for the Ballon d'Or, an eighth for Messi or the first for Mbappé.

Kylian Mbappé during a training session in Doha on December 16, 2022 © FRANCK FIFE / AFP

"He is not one of the best players in the world for nothing. We will make sure to limit his influence as much as possible", warned Didier Deschamps, captain of the first star in 1998, coach of the second in 2018 in Russia.

"Last chance"

Eliminated in the round of 16 of the Euro in 2021, deprived in Qatar of half a dozen injured executives, including Karim Benzema, and now weakened by this virus, the Blues are survivors before finding Argentina, beaten 4- 3 in eighth of the 2018 edition.

But in adversity emerged a guide, Antoine Griezmann, ex-attacker reinvented as a "little prince" of the middle, ready for all the sacrifices and all the suffering for his longtime partners, the calm Raphaël Varane, the unsinkable Olivier Giroud and the indestructible Hugo Lloris.

In search of a second title as captain, an unprecedented feat, the goalkeeper respects the opponent, "competitive throughout this competition" and who has in his ranks "this player, Messi, who marked the history of our sport ".

Didier Deschamps and Kylian Mbappé in Doha on December 16, 2022 © FRANCK FIFE / AFP

To preside over the table of Argentine legends, with the late Diego Maradona, crowned in 1986, at his side, "La Pulga" only needs this ultimate trophy: "He knows it's his last chance", underlines Pablo Zabaleta , his partner at the 2014 World Cup.

Unlike his first final lost that year after extra time against Germany, Messi seems surrounded in Qatar by a colony of warriors, from Leandro Paredes to Nicolas Otamendi, via Julian Alvarez, offensive revelation with four goals, like Giroud.

Will he know the glory of the "Pibe de Oro"?

Or will he come out between tears and loneliness, like Cristiano Ronaldo, the other legend of his century?

'Leo' Messi holds part of the answer.

France and Kylian Mbappé have each other.

© 2022 AFP