France will play Argentina, who are also looking to win the World Cup for the third time, in Sunday's final at the Lusail Stadium.
PSG forward Messi, 35, was next on the list after bringing home a combined $130 million while club team mate and France captain Mbappe -- the youngest on the list at 24 -- earned $120 million to sit third.
Stopping the stars won't be enough to win World Cup
A summary of Wednesday's action in the Champions League quarter-finals first leg.
Brazil forward Neymar has signed for Al-Hilal from French champions Paris St Germain
Germany expects 2.7 million people to attend matches in stadiums across the country and some 12 million in its fan zones for outdoor viewing, including on a long stretch of turf laid out in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
36-year-old target man Giroud put the World Cup holders ahead at 2-1 with a tap-in after 32 minutes and added his second in the 71st to make the score 4-1 with a header from a Kylian Mbappe cross.
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, who won the 2022 Ballon d'Or award, is also in the shortlist.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti said striker Kylian Mbappe's decision to snub Real Madrid and stay at Paris St Germain was not a distraction ahead of Saturday's Champions League final
While he only made one late substitution in the 2-1 victory over England, Deschamps used the bench more against Morocco.
Lionel Messi -- but who else -- led Argentina's World Cup celebrations.
Reigning champions France take on Argentina in a showpiece final at Lusail Stadium with both teams looking to add a third star to their crest.
Antoine Griezmann and Samuel Lino scored in each half to give Atletico Madrid a 2-0 win over Lazio on Wednesday that secured them top spot in Champions League Group E, the first time since 2016 that they had reached the knockouts as group winners.
Galtier said all other players returned as per the schedule and will be available for Wednesday's game, including France striker Kylian Mbappe.
Messi named FIFA player of 2022, England women rewarded for Euro campaign
Lionel Messi's second-half goal gave Argentina a 1-0 home win over Ecuador on Thursday to get their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign off on the right foot.
Alvaro Morata scored a brace to help Atletico Madrid deliver a statement performance as they outclassed city rivals Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi transported fans back in time to the heyday of their storied rivalry, as both forwards got on the scoresheet in an exhibition match in Riyadh on Thursday.
Theo Hernandez's high hooked finish from a deflected Kylian Mbappe shot put the defending champions ahead and forced Walid Regragui's team to take the initiative, ending the game with more possession than Les Bleus.
Images from football matches held across Europe on Saturday
Images from the UEFA Champions League group matches played on Tuesday night
Not only the senior team but the young Blue Colts also emerged victorious in the SAFF Men's U-19 champions after hammering Pakistan in the final and clinching a vigorous 3-0 victory.
Images from the Nations League football matches played on Thursday.
'We have to look at the whole team, not just one player. If we play together, and stay compact we can do well. I would not target a single player.'
Qatar no playground for playmakers as defenders clamp down
Cristiano Ronaldo has yet again left the competition behind as the five-time Ballon D'Or winner was named Instagram's top earner for the third year in a row.
Holders France failed to qualify for the final four of the Nations League when they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Croatia
IMAGES from the football matches played across Europe on Sunday.
Target man Giroud is level with Thierry Henry on 51 goals after scoring twice in their 4-1 win against Australia on Tuesday.
A summary of the concluding day's action in the Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and Saudi Pro League.
The structure of the nine-team WTC remains intact with each side playing three home and as many away series over a two-year period culminating in the final of a one-off Test.
France will look to keep their World Cup momentum going when they face Tunisia even though they have qualified for the knock-out stages, and coach Didier Deschamps will make changes for the game on Wednesday.
And to think that the 24-year-old forward had nearly missed the World Cup bus.
Al Hilal, managed by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, play Al Fayha on Saturday with Neymar expected to wear the number 10 shirt.
World champions France won the Nations League final with goals from Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe earning them a 2-1 win over Spain at the San Siro stadium on Sunday.
Man City set to release skipper Gundogan and Mendy
Lights go out at Rio's Christ the Redeemer in support of Vinicius Jr
England, who are gunning for their second World Cup title, have the most valuable squad in Qatar with Jude Bellingham topping a list of over 800 players.
The most impressive players at the FIFA World Cup 2022 after Round One.
IMAGES from the Champions League matches played on Tuesday.
