Argentina stand just one victory away from etching their names into football history.
Lionel Scaloni's side are aiming to become only the third nation to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup, following Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962).
Standing in their way are European champions Spain, with Lionel Messi once again expected to play a decisive role.
Whether Messi is the greatest footballer of all time will always remain a matter of opinion, but there is little debate that he belongs among the sport's greatest icons.
If Argentina triumph on Sunday, the 39-year-old will become the first captain to lift the World Cup trophy on two occasions.
After falling short of expectations in his first four World Cup campaigns, Messi produced a career-defining tournament in Qatar in 2022, leading Argentina to the title.
Four years later, he has once again inspired his nation, sitting just one goal behind Kylian Mbappe in the race to become the competition's all-time leading scorer.
His remarkable journey makes his brief retirement from international football in 2016 seem almost unimaginable.
Sunday's final will mark his 34th World Cup appearance, raising the inevitable question: will this be his final game in Argentina's famous blue and white shirt?
Should Messi decide to continue until the 2030 tournament, he would become the oldest outfield player ever to feature at a World Cup at the age of 43 - assuming Cristiano Ronaldo does not remain on the international stage for Portugal.
The prospect is not as far-fetched as it once seemed.
The 2030 World Cup will celebrate the tournament's centenary, with opening matches scheduled to take place in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay before the competition moves to Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
The opportunity to play a World Cup match on home soil could prove a powerful incentive.
Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague believes Messi still has unfinished business with Argentina.
"Even if people say this is the end, I have my doubts," Balague said.
"He genuinely enjoys representing Argentina. I don't see him simply finishing with Inter Miami and walking away from international football."
Messi has once again delivered on the biggest stage, scoring eight goals in seven matches to help Argentina reach another final.
His performances have prompted widespread praise from Scaloni, who described his captain as the greatest footballer in history.
"He is history. He is a legend," Scaloni said.
"To reach another World Cup final at 39 is unbelievable. We have to enjoy every moment because players like him come along very rarely."
Scaloni admitted he does not know whether Sunday's final will be Messi's farewell.
"I have no idea if this will be Leo's last game. You'll have to ask him. We haven't spoken about it."
Messi's longevity has been extraordinary.
Remarkably, 15 of his 21 World Cup goals have come since turning 35, highlighting an incredible late-career renaissance.
Balague believes Messi's fitness and passion remain key reasons why retirement may not yet be imminent.
"He is still finishing 120-minute matches at 39," Balague explained.
"He manages his energy brilliantly, and above all, the passion is still there. That's why I don't think he's ready to leave the national team."
Although Messi did not score in Argentina's dramatic semi-final comeback victory over England, he provided two assists to further cement his place in World Cup history.
He now boasts 12 World Cup assists - 10 of them coming in knockout matches - with no other player recording more than eight overall.
His list of World Cup achievements continues to grow:
Most men's World Cup appearances (33).
One of only two players, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, to play at six men's World Cups.
The only player to win two World Cup Golden Ball awards (2014 and 2022).
The only player to score in every knockout round of a title-winning campaign (2022).
Most men's World Cup assists (12).
Goal or assist in 11 consecutive World Cup appearances, the longest such streak on record since 1966.
Goals scored in a record nine consecutive men's World Cup matches.
Set to become only the second player, after Cafu, to feature in three World Cup finals
Whatever happens against Spain, Messi has already added another remarkable chapter to one of football's greatest careers.
But victory would elevate both him and Argentina into a category reserved for only the most legendary teams and players the sport has ever seen.
