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The huge pressure to deliver World Cup glory for Lionel Messi could HINDER Argentina and favour France with the star’s legacy falling short of Pele and Maradona if they lose, says Sportsmail’s Oliver Holt on WORLD CUP CONFIDENTIAL

  • Argentina take on France in Sunday’s World Cup final with all eyes on Messi
  • PSG star can complete his legacy by claiming the one medal he is missing
  • But there’s an argument the pressure to deliver for Messi could harm Argentina
  • Messi’s career will fall short of all-time greats Pele and Maradona if France win 
  • Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results

Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and France has the potential to be an all-time classic.

There’s no shortage of intriguing sub-plots with Lionel Messi playing his final World Cup match and aiming to complete the medal collection in his fairytale career. 

If Argentina win their third World Cup, Messi will sit alongside Pele and Diego Maradona among the greatest footballers of all time.

However, if France prevail and retain their World Cup title, there’s a real danger that Messi’s stellar career will feel incomplete.  

But what if the enormous pressure to deliver the Messi fairytale weighs Argentina down in the final and proved more hindrance than inspiration?

It’s a topic discussed by the Mail on Sunday’s chief sports writer Oliver Holt in the latest edition of our World Cup Confidential videocast from Qatar.

Also in today’s episode: 

  • Chris Sutton on how player performance can be impact by wanting something a little too much
  • Martin Samuel on why France’s hard-working style is a reflection of their coach Didier Deschamps when he was a player

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Our writers Oliver Holt, Martin Samuel and Chris Sutton were speaking as part of Sportsmail and MailPlus’ daily videocast ‘World Cup Confidential’. 

It appears on MailOnline every morning of the tournament and can be found on our YouTube channel.

Lionel Messi has illuminated this World Cup – but can he complete a fairytale win on Sunday?

France will go all-out to stop him in what promises to be a classic World Cup final




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