Rio De Janeiro: Lionel Messi will attempt to emulate his idol Diego Maradona here Sunday as he leads Argentina into battle against Germany in a heavyweight World Cup final pitting Europe against South America.
Rio de Janeiro’s famous Maracana Stadium is the setting for the eagerly anticipated final, which kicks off at 4:00 pm (1900 GMT) in front of 73,500 fans and an estimated global television audience of around one billion.
Germany, riding a wave of momentum following their 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the semi-finals, start as favourites to become the first side from Europe ever to win a World Cup in Latin America.
But standing in their way is an Argentina side captained by Messi, the four-time World Footballer of the Year who is chasing a place alongside Maradona and Pele as the greatest players to have won the sport’s biggest prize.
“Tomorrow, we will play the most important match of our lives for our country,” Messi wrote in a message on his official Facebook page late Saturday.
“My dreams and my hopes are being fulfilled due to the hard work and sacrifice of a team that has given everything from match one.
“We knew it was possible. Our people, the Argentines, they have carried us here. But the dream is not over yet. Tomorrow we want to win, and we are ready!”
Some 100,000 Argentines are estimated to have flooded into Rio to support their team ahead of the final.
