World Cup final: Di Maria makes it 2-0 for Argentina against France

Di Maria doubled Argentina's lead in the 36th minute after Lionel Messi scored on a penalty to make it 1-0 for Argentina against France.

Di Maria started for the first time since sustaining a foot injury against Poland in the final round of group matches.

The 34-year-old took the place of Leandro Paredes in midfield as Argentina again rolled out a 4-4-2 formation, with Messi one of the two forwards.

Messi is making a record 26th appearance at the World Cup, breaking a tie with Germany great Lothar Matthäus.

Messi's matches have been spread over five World Cups, starting in 2006. It was Messi's 12th World Cup goal.

Like France, Argentina is seeking a third World Cup title — after 1978 and 1986 — to move into outright fourth place in the all-time list. It would end a 36-year wait for football's biggest prize, since Maradona's string of virtuoso performances in Mexico in 1986.

That made Maradona forever a hero in Argentina and an icon around the soccer world. Messi now appears to be at that level — win or lose on Sunday when he’ll play in a record 26th World Cup match.

Messi has evoked comparisons with Maradona in the way he has pushed Argentina to the final, scoring six goals, setting up three more and thrilling his team's legion of fans, who have poured into Qatar throughout the World Cup in numbers only really matched by those from Morocco.

In that sense, it will seem like a home game for Argentina, with France's supporters sure to be heavily outnumbered amid a sea of blue-and-white jerseys — many of which will have "MESSI 10" written on them.