FIFA World Cup: Messi's son pens heartfelt message to father ahead of final clash with France

Lionel Messi's son Thiago penned a message to his father ahead of Argentina's FIFA World Cup 2022 final against France at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday.

Prior to the competition, Messi declared that Qatar 2022 will "surely" be his final World Cup. After coming so close in 2014 when the Albiceleste were defeated by Germany in overtime, he now has the potential to end his career on a high note by winning the event for the first time.

Messi's wife Antonela Roccuzzo posted the message from Thiago on social media. It draws reference to Diego Maradona, who led Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986 and passed away at the age of 60 in 2020, as well as his father's pursuit of glory.

"I was born in Argentina, land of Diego [Maradona] and Lionel. Of the kids from Malvinas that I will never forget. I can't explain it to you because you won't understand," the letter read.

"The finals we lost, for how many years I cried for her, but that ended in the Maracana, the final with the brazuqas, Dad won it again.

"Boys, now we are excited again, I want to win the third, I want to be world champion, and we can see Diego from heaven, with Don Diego and La Tota, rooting for Lionel."

Argentina, led by Messi, defeated Croatia 3-0 to advance to the final. In the latter, Messi was the star, scoring the game's first goal from the penalty spot before going on a mad dash to set up teammate Julian Alvarez for the game's third goal.

The Les Bleus, meanwhile, defeated Morocco to advance to the final and scored 13 goals overall to Argentina's 12.

Along with Kylian Mbappe, a teammate from Paris Saint-Germain, Messi enters the World Cup final as the tournament's joint-leading scorer. 

His goals against Australia, the Netherlands, and Croatia marked his first-ever FIFA World Cup goals in the knockout rounds. Alvarez and Olivier Giroud are both one goal behind both players, who both have five goals to their credit.