Like many watching from around the planet, former All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen is divided between head and heart over the outcome of the Football World Cup final at Doha on Monday (NZ time).
Argentina will face defending champions France for the Jules Rimet Trophy, with very few - including the TAB - prepared to predict clear winners.
The South Americans survived an opening shock defeat to Saudi Arabia - billed as one of the biggest upsets in tournament history - before picking up momentum over the past month, while the French dropped a meaningless pool game to Tunisia, en route to the knockout stages.
Both teams offer intriguing subplots - Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi tries to seal his legacy with the one trophy that has eluded him, while Les Bleus hope to become the first team in 60 years to defend their crown.
Attending the final as a FIFA Legend, Nelsen, 45, is suitably torn over the result.
"My heart says Argentina and my brain says France," he told Newshub. "Not a very good answer, is it?
"Talking to some of the ex-Argentinian players, they've said, if [Messi] wins this World Cup, does he... go ahead of the great Maradona?
"I think that's going to be one of the big questions, if he does lift this trophy.
"One game shouldn't [define a legacy], but I think it will, especially in the Argentinian fans' eyes, because the World Cup means so much to them, but I think if he does lift it tonight - and potentially get the Golden Ball as well - he'll be up there with the 'Football God'."
But Nelsen says France cannot be overlooked, with explosive stars like Kylian Mbappe and leading goalscorer Olivier Giroud leading the way.
"We saw in the Morocco game, they seem like they're holding themselves back and they're very comfortable absorbing pressure, but man, when they win that ball, they are so dangerous in transition.
"Mbappe's speed is Olympian-like and there's Giroud, who's in doubt tonight, which could be a big factor, and [Antoine] Griezmann, who has been one of the players of the tournament. They have so much deadly force going forward, but also at the back, they've been so strong."
Watch the video for the full interview
