“Electrification”: What is it like to watch Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in person in Qatar 2022 | CNN

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Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe were arguably the two best players at Qatar 2022 and the two will go head to head in the World Cup final on Sunday.

The confrontation is expected to be watched by millions behind television screens around the world, and even more desperate for a chance to see the two stars in the flesh one day.

CNN watched both strikers play live at various points in this year’s World Cup, and this franchise helps you understand what makes these two men so special.

Attending the World Cup where Lionel Messi plays makes you appreciate what a great star he is.

Walk around the streets of Doha and you will see his name everywhere; From billboards to the back of people’s shirts.

Market stalls sell his jersey, as fans from all over the world come to catch a glimpse of the Argentine wizard playing in his last World Cup.

The atmosphere rises to another level on Argentina match day.

His name is sung by his adoring fans, reaching deafening levels when he leads his team out for a warm-up.

Despite being a quieter character than some of the game’s stars, the 35-year-old knows his role and plays it perfectly.

He waves to the crowd and shows his appreciation for their support before turning his attention to the task at hand.

Even as he enters the end of his football career, Messi still controls matches and doesn’t even need to be on the ball to do so.

Every time an Argentine player gets possession of the ball, their task seems simple and well-done; find messi.

Even if the little forward doesn’t receive the pass himself, he indicates where he wants the ball to be played, like a conductor conducting the orchestra – something you don’t always see on TV.

Much has been said about his tendency to wander around the field during matches, and while that is true, it is important to note that his mind is always working.

Although his body language can seem disinterested at times, he is a coiled spring, waiting for that pocket of space to appear so he can work his magic.

“The difficult thing for him is when we attack, he feels good somewhere in a corner or something,” Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk said before the quarter-final match with Argentina. “You have to be very sharp in terms of defensive organization.”

Really high praise from the best defender on the planet.

When he’s on the ball, Messi’s first touch is always perfect and the crowd sits close to the edge of their seats.

In truth, he doesn’t have the lightning speed he once had, but his mind is still electric and the quality of what he does has, if anything, only improved.

The things he does may seem simple to some watching on screen, but watch him live and you will see that everything is done with extreme speed and precision.

The heaviness of his passing determines what his team mates do next and where he places the ball giving opposition defences’ nightmares.

Even after the match, it’s still all about Messi.

Journalists gather in the mixed area, waiting to speak to the players as they leave the dressing rooms and head to the team bus.

Even the most experienced and hard-eyed reporters wait a little longer to see Messi up close, desperate to get a penalty from the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Messi in his superstar role used to stop talking – even after his team’s humiliating 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their opening World Cup match – and pose for photographs from journalists around the world.

It’s a brief moment in time for Messi, but those moments last a lifetime for the people around him.

The best pictures of the 2022 World Cup

At just 23, Mbappe doesn’t have quite the same global reach as Messi yet, but his ability to sensationalize is no less powerful and his quality is evident even before kick-off.

Those who took their seats inside the stadiums early in the Qatar 2022 tournament witnessed the striker’s finishing prowess.

Just before the players finish their preparations, strikers often take 10 minutes to practice their shot against the goalkeeper – and Mbappe always looked more fired up than most.

While his teammates saw attempts to save or miss, time and time again, his efforts whistled into the top corner of the net with the crowd, many for the first time, witnessing what world-class finishing looks like up close.

Once the match starts, those same fans wait anxiously for the ball to land at Mbappe’s feet, knowing exactly what he’s going to do when he gets it.

The Frenchman does not complicate the game and relies a lot on his speed. His pace feels superhuman, with the fastest attacker sweeping past the opposition with ease.

At every opportunity, Mbappe looks to crunch his defender and drop the ball into his own net. Once free, it simply cannot be stopped.

According to FIFA, Mbappe reached a top speed of 35.3 kilometers per hour (about 22 miles per hour) during his team’s Round of 16 victory against Poland – among the fastest speeds recorded in the tournament.

Defenders often can’t handle acceleration, and when combined with accurate shooting, the youngster has won games in the blink of an eye.

It’s a feat that never gets old and there is a rumble of excitement around the pitch whenever it seems like Mbappe will get a chance to show off his super pace.

Like Messi, Mbappe wasn’t too interested in defending and seeing him strut around the pitch before launching into action is like watching the Argentina icon.

But he always seems to be scanning his surroundings, taking a mental picture of the playing field and deciding when and where to freak out next.

Desperate to stop him, teams often task at least two defenders with paying close attention to the Frenchman’s movements – but Mbappe seems to enjoy a challenge and seems to enjoy making the opponent look foolish.

Managers and coaching staff on the touchline are shouting instructions to remind their players exactly where Mbappe is. They know, with half a yard of space, Mbappe has the potential to change the game.

French fans in Qatar have been particularly confident throughout the tournament, and when asked why, they often have the same answer – because they have Mbappe in their team.

All eyes will now be on Sunday to see who can get the last laugh at Qatar 2022.