It seems like it is written in the stars for Lionel Messi and Argentina.

The mercurial forward is regarded as one of the best players in the world over the last 15 or so
years, having often done things few others can dream of on the pitch.
But while his trophy cabinet is filled with league titles and Champions League trophies, it is
missing the grandest prize of all - the World Cup.
Now, in what is set to be his final appearance on football's biggest stage, Messi has the chance
to emulate his late idol Diego Maradona.
Should Argentina beat France in Qatar on Sunday, they will lift their first World Cup since
Maradona led the national team to success in 1986.
The question is often asked, who is better - Messi or Maradona?
Given both played in different eras, on different pitches and with different regulations in place,
it feels impossible to answer.
But we can certainly compare their World Cup records and look at who was the most influential
in their side's respective runs to the final.

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Two geniuses guiding Argentina to glory?
Comparisons can certainly be drawn between this Argentina team and the one that last
triumphed 36 years ago.
Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, in Qatar for the current tournament, was in the
England side that lost 2-1 to Maradona's Argentina in that controversial quarter-final in Mexico
that featured the 'Hand of God' goal.
"I look at this Argentina side and I see one very similar to the side that won the World Cup in
1986," he said.
"They are very aggressive, they have a lot of strong, powerful players, not hugely gifted talent
all over the field but they had a really good centre forward in Jorge Valdano in 1986 and now
Julian Alvarez. Then they give the ball to a genius - Maradona and now Messi.
"It is a similar approach, but will it be good enough?"