World Cup 2022: Saudi Coach Reveals Grand Plan on How to Stop Messi

• Lionel Messi's only loss in the 2022 World Cup came against minnows Saudi Arabia in Argentina's opening group game
• Hervé Renard, who plotted Argentina's downfall, has come out with a theory on how to stop Messi
• Messi could cement his legacy as perhaps the greatest footballer of all time should Argentina win the Mundial on Sunday

Hervé Renard, who masterminded Argentina's only defeat in the ongoing World Cup, has revealed how to slow Lionel Messi down ahead of the blockbuster final.

Argentina cross swords with defending champions France on Sunday, December 18 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, a game Messi has revealed will be his last at the Mundial.

The 35-year-old has literally dragged La Albiceleste to the cusp of international glory, notching five goals en route to the finals, per CBS Soccer.

He has been at his devastating best since the inception of the 2022 World Cup and could finally add the global showpiece to his long trophy haul.

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However in Messi's path to success stands his heir-apparent Kylian Mbappe and France, who are poised to annex their third world title and second in a row.

Proffering his wisdom to his country of birth - France - on how to stop Messi, Renard suggested the focus should not be on the PSG forward but rather on the collective.

“We didn’t just focus on him, but on him in Argentina as a whole. You have to take him in this context to analyze his area of influence, to see how the balls reach him," Renard said in an interview with L’Équipe.

He added: "Above all, you have to press (Rodrigo) De Paul who is, for me, one of the best Argentines and one of the most useful to place Messi in the best conditions.

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"He is important because he compensates a lot on the right side and his slaughter relieves Messi of a lot of tasks.

"When they lose the ball, De Paul is there to save him from the defensive work. All the mechanisms in between are important to study.”

“When the ball is lost, the others work for him. I’m not into Scaloni’s little secrets, but he relieved him of all that work. When they play four behind, they have three midfielders who work hard to supply Messi straight away for recovery.

"It is one of the keys to Argentina. I knew De Paul, but he also shocked me in this competition with his impressive volume.”

Saudi coach backs Argentina

Sports Brief earlier reported that Saudi Arabia manager Hervé Renard has tipped Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar despite their opening-day loss.

Hervé Renard masterminded Argentina's first defeat in 36 matches with a stunning 2-1 victory at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday, November 22.

Renard's mammoth feat against one of the front runners of this year's Mundial ensured Saudi Arabia became the first non-European nation to beat La Albiceleste in the history of the tournament, as noted by Sky Sports.