FOR Lionel Messi, it all comes down to this. A World Cup final between Argentina and France, the second such occasion in his career, and a final opportunity to put to bed the question of whether he is the greatest ever. Except it shouldn’t all come down to this, really.

This game will merely decide whether Argentina will win the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The question of whether Messi is the greatest footballer ever has already been answered in the affirmative.

The Argentina narrative, that of a country possibly winning its third World Cup, sits below the Messi narrative, though they are currently inexorably intertwined. Messi relies on Argentina. Argentina relies on Messi.

Assistance at this tournament has come from the likes of 22-year-old Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez and one of its breakout stars, 21-year-old Enzo Fernandez of Benfica.

Both were playing club football in Argentina as recently as this year prior to moves to Europe in the summer, giving them and their team’s strong links to their home nation despite the fact no outfield players in this squad currently play in Argentina. 

The type of links it feels like Messi has had to work on, having spent much of his football life in Catalonia with Barcelona. But Messi needs Argentina, Argentina needs Messi, and he is now primarily an Argentina player — he has been since his move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain. 

Messi is now a player who sometimes turns out for the best, or rather richest, team in Ligue 1 to keep himself fit, sharp and ready for when La Albiceleste come calling.

Even in apparent cruise control at the age of 35, he remains the best player at his club, and in Ligue 1, and in Europe, and, apparently, the world.