France Argentina | The world behind Messi and against the Blues? “It would be sad if he finished without being crowned”

A World Cup final is enough by itself. It carries the history of the game and the legend to write, whoever the actors are. It is so and this is what has made its greatness for almost a century. However, opus number 21 (note: there was no final in 1950) has something more to it than many of its predecessors. If the meeting in Berlin in 2006 marked the sporting end of Zinédine Zidane, Sunday’s meeting in Lusail will pit Lionel Messi against his own legend.

For his last in the World Cup, the Argentine with seven Ballon d’Ors will try to win THE title outright. The eldest, the one who has always rejected him since his debut. At 35. A huge double o comes out. Undoubtedly the largest individual stake in World Cup Finals history.

France is unlikely to make feelings with La Pulga. Because she has better things to do, like winning a second World Cup in a row. But what does the world think? Wouldn’t the planet want to see Lionel Messi lift the World Cup rather than see the Blues put the cover back on four years after Russia? To find out, we asked here and there.

Spectators number 1 of this World Cup while Italy is not celebrating once again, the transalpines we interviewed rely on the Argentine side. “Italy will mostly be behind Argentina. There’s too much rivalry with France, and then it’s difficult to sustain it against Messi”Juge Francesco Pietrella of the Gazzetta dello Sport. “I think a lot of people are eager to see Messi win the World Cup final on Sunday.Stefano Dolci from Eurosport Italia abounds. There aren’t many fans of the French team here, apart from perhaps Stefano Pioli, for his AC Milan players.”

In Germany, the same story: “It would be sad to see Messi finish his career without the World Cup. I don’t know the general feeling but, to those I’ve spoken to, it’s ‘all for Argentina’. Not because of Messi, but because I don’t want to see a team win twice in a row”.judge Dennis Melzer, reporter for Eurosport.de.

The British and Argentina, it’s not quite like that. Historically. Plus we like Cristiano Ronaldo on the other side of the Channel. “I think England doesn’t have a preference, and the older generation has some bad memories with Argentina”confirms Pete Sharland, English journalist.

Ronaldo – Messi, we’re getting there. And Portugal? Sergio Peralta, maisfutebol journalist, will amaze you: “Although it may be what other European countries imagine, don’t imagine that a Lionel Messi victory with Argentina would be a tragedy for us. Especially not. The Portuguese are very sad that Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t “succeeded”. Country. But that’s not why they don’t want Messi to become world champion. Many will be very happy that this trophy is finally the one that best rewards Messi’s talent. In Portugal, people know how to appreciate his genius.”

Even in Brazil, which not only shares good memories and cordial relations with Argentina, part of the population would welcome a triumph for its neighbour, and above all for Lionel Messi. Rivaldo is the first of them. “Brazil and Neymar are gone, so I’m for Argentina. Leo Messi, you deserved to be world champion before, but God knows and you will be crowned on Sunday”she wrote on Instagram.

South of the Mediterranean, the sentiment is more shared. Especially in Algeria. “From what I perceive, I have the impression that we have a fairly neutral eye, except probably among longtime admirers of Lionel Messi, judge Naïm Bennedra, Goal journalist. And there are many on the Algerian side. Had Morocco been in the final, we would have felt more preoccupied, between the prospect of having a neighbor in the final, wishing him happiness or misfortune on him. I still think he will lean a little more on the Argentine side, because there is rivalry between us and France but, in general, there is no hostility towards the French. Above all, we hope for a good final.”

Babacar Diarra of BBC Africa gives us the Senegalese perspective: “People have an overwhelming passion for Senegal, Real Madrid and Barça. So that gives an indication of what people are thinking here. FC Barcelona fans are very excited about Lionel Messi’s victory.” And France in all this? While there may be anti-French sentiment, there is still a good third of Senegalese who will support the Blues on Sunday.”