All-time combined XI: Argentina vs. France - Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane

France go into the mouth-watering showdown as defending champions having won their second title in Russia four years ago, and another triumph this weekend would see them become only the third nation to ever win back-to-back World Cups.

Argentina, meanwhile, have waited 36 years to scale the summit of football since their triumph in 1986 and are looking to add the World Cup crown to their Copa America title.

Both nations have provided a plethora of footballing legends down the years, with some of the greatest players of all time hailing from the two countries.

Creating a combined XI of the best ever from both teams was no mean feat, then, but Sports Mole has taken on that task ahead of the winner-takes-all shootout on Sunday.

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris

While there are those who still have doubts over Hugo Lloris's place among the best of the best goalkeepers in world football - particularly at club level - it is difficult to argue with his record on the international stage.

The 35-year-old has the chance on Sunday to create a unique piece of history by becoming the first captain to lift the World Cup on two separate occasions, while he has already become France's all-time leading appearance-maker during the tournament in Qatar.

Lloris's performances in the wins over England and Morocco in particular were crucial to France making it to the final again, and he will be hoping to have another decisive say on cap number 145 for his national team.

Honourable mentions: Ubaldo Fillol, Fabien Barthez, Amadeo Carrizo

Right-back: Lilian Thuram

The two main candidates for the right-back spot boast an incredible 287 caps between them - 145 for Javier Zanetti and 142 for Lilian Thuram - but we have gone with the Frenchman by a whisker.

For all of Zanetti's quality, there is no doubt that Thuram had a more accomplished international career in particular, helping France to glory at the 1998 World Cup and at Euro 2000 as well.

Incredibly, Thuram scored only two goals in his 142 caps - which was a national record before Lloris overtook it in Qatar - and both of those goals came in the semi-final of the 1998 World Cup.

One of the greatest defenders of his generation, Thuram is equally at home at right-back or at centre-back, and the prospect of three centre-backs was mooted to make room for an extra attacker further up the pitch, but in the end we settled for Thuram on the right.

Honourable mentions: Javier Zanetti

Centre-backs: Marcel Desailly, Daniel Passarella

A position with plenty of competition - so much so that the likes of Laurent Blanc and Raphael Varane fail to make the cut.

However, any opposition attack would have a difficult time getting past the rugged, athletic and bruising centre-back partnership of Marcel Desailly and Daniel Passarella.

Desailly was part of the squad which won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship two years later, going on to make 116 appearances for France in total.

Passarella went one better, though, winning the World Cup twice with Argentina, including becoming the first Argentine to get his hands on the trophy when he captained them to their maiden success in 1978.

A fractious relationship with a certain Diego Maradona and manager Carlos Bilardo meant that his role in 1986 was far less prominent, although his selection in the squad means that he holds the unique distinction of being the only player to have been part of both of Argentina's World Cup-winning parties.

Passarella also had an uncanny eye for goal for a defender, scoring 22 times in 70 appearances for Argentina, so coupled with the marauding Desailly - equally at home at defensive midfield as centre-back - this pairing would provide plenty of threat going forward in addition to solidity at the back.

Honourable mentions: Raphael Varane, Laurent Blanc, Frank Leboeuf, Roberto Ayala, Marius Tresor, Oscar Ruggeri

Left-back: Bixente Lizarazu

Another member of France's first golden generation, Bixente Lizarazu beats compatriot Patrice Evra to a spot at left-back courtesy of his success on the international stage.

The diminutive defender was a key part of the team in France's World Cup and European Championship successes of 1998 and 2000 respectively, scoring one of his two international goals in the former.

Lizarazu ultimately made 97 appearances for his country, while his time at Bayern Munich meant that he was also highly decorated at club level too.

Honourable mentions: Patrice Evra, Silvio Marzolini

Centre-midfielders: Zinedine Zidane, Michel Platini

Central midfield is where things start to get really difficult, although Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini were two players who simply could not be left out of this XI.

The midfield pair are arguably the two best players France have ever produced to date, with Zidane in particular rising to a level where some consider him among the greatest players of all time.

Along with Ronaldo, Zidane was certainly the standout player of his generation, winning the FIFA World Player of the Year award three times and the Ballon d'Or once in 1998 - thanks largely to his role in taking France to their first World Cup title.

The former Juventus and Real Madrid maestro scored twice in the final of that tournament as the hosts swept Ronaldo's Brazil aside, and eight years later he became only the fourth player in history to net in two separate World Cup finals when he produced a panenka penalty to give his country the lead against Italy.

That final - Zidane's last-ever outing as a professional footballer - ultimately ended in misery and infamy as he was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi and France went on to lose the game, but the midfielder was still named the player of the tournament after some typically classy performances en route to the final.

Zidane was effectively the heir to Michel Platini in the national team, and the latter also enjoyed success on the international stage at the 1984 European Championships.

Platini was head and shoulders above the rest in that tournament as he ended it with the Golden Ball, Golden Boot and the main trophy, cementing his place as the best European player in the world at the time.

Indeed, the former UEFA president won the Ballon d'Or three years in a row from 1983 to 1985, while he also helped France to two World Cup semi-finals either side of that reign of dominance.

In total, Platini scored an impressive 41 goals in 72 appearances for France and, while his reputation amongst football fans may have since nosedived due to his actions as UEFA chief, his ability on the pitch should not be overshadowed.

Admittedly, there are plenty of more defence-minded midfielders in the honourable mentions that would have made this a more balanced team, with Platini in particular perhaps more suited to an attacking midfield role, but both he and Zidane simply had to be included in the XI.

Honourable mentions: Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele, N'Golo Kante, Didier Deschamps, Diego Simeone, Jean Tigana, Fernando Redondo, Javier Mascherano

Right wing: Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is one of only three men in this XI without a World Cup winners' medal to his name, but that could all change on Sunday as he looks to add the crowning glory to his legendary career.

Regardless, the 35-year-old has already done more than enough to warrant a place in this or any other best XI, and while victory this weekend may cement him as the greatest player of all time for many, even defeat would not rule him out of that debate.

Messi's list of achievements is far too long to list here - the highlights being a record seven Ballons d'Or and 37 trophies at club level - but the biggest prize has so far eluded him and his relative lack of success on the international stage has been the only minor blot on his otherwise impeccable copybook.

That was partially erased with success at the Copa America in 2021, but victory in Sunday's final would well and truly make this Messi's World Cup, just like 1986 was for Maradona.

Already in Qatar the Paris Saint-Germain man has set or equalled records for the most World Cup appearances, most World Cup goals for Argentina and the most goal involvements of any player in World Cup history, to name just three.

In total, the magician has now scored 96 goals in 171 appearances for Argentina and, while a player like Raymond Kopa will forever be a legendary figure in the sport, there really was no contest for the right wing role, with only two or three players in the entire history of football able to be classed in the same category as Messi.

Honourable mentions: Raymond Kopa, Franck Ribery, Rene Houseman, Oreste Corbatta

Attacking midfield: Diego Maradona

One of those players is right alongside him in this XI too - Diego Maradona.

Regardless of how many goals Messi scores or titles he wins, there are some who will not sway from their belief that Maradona is the best of all time, having dazzled fans and opposition players alike in an era of much heavier tackling and much worse pitches.

While his heroics with Napoli add to his significant legend, it was the 1986 World Cup which stands apart as Maradona's tour de force, having almost single-handedly dragged Argentina to World Cup glory.

The quarter-final victory over England is perhaps the best microcosm of his career, having produced the 'Hand of God' to open the scoring and then embarked on the 'Goal of the Century' moments later, perfectly encapsulating his genius and gamesmanship - to put it kindly - in one neat package.

Maradona was scintillating throughout the entire tournament, though, and while he drew a rare blank in the final, he still produced the telling moment of class with a perfectly-weighted through-ball for Jorge Burruchaga to score the winning goal.

Argentina and their iconic number 10 were back on the grandest stage again four years later too, although this time they were beaten by West Germany, and Maradona's infamous crazed celebration at the 1994 World Cup ultimately spelled the end of his international career after 91 appearances and 34 goals.