World Cup final sees Messi v Mbappé, with Qatar the winner regardless

16-Dec-2022 13:44:15 | The Guardian

Host country prepares for day of celebration on Sunday as Argentina take on France, with Lionel Messi on a mission

It takes only a few minutes to spot the first Lionel Messi shirt after stepping out of Msheireb metro station. Keep going towards Souq Waqif and, although the streets of downtown Doha are not playing host to a typical football atmosphere, images of the little Argentinian genius are hard to miss. There are countless Messi T-shirts hanging from the stalls in the market, there is even a painting of him in the front window of the Souq Waqif Art Center, and judging by the mood among the tourists mooching around the city most people will be backing Argentina when they meet France in the World Cup final on Sunday night.

As one stallholder puts it as he sells another Argentina scarf, nobody is particularly interested in his France merchandise. Even the four Brazil fans taking a stroll on a hot Friday morning are wearing curly blue and white wigs. It is a baffling sight, but there is an explanation. Yes, it was annoying that Brazil blew their quarter-final against Croatia. And, yes, Brazilians do hate Argentina. But apparently it’s a bit like hating your family: you love them really and would prefer to see them happy.