Match of the Day football pundit Alan Hansen makes his final appearance for the BBC this evening during the World Cup final in Rio.

The 59-year-old, who moved into punditry a year after retiring from the game in 1991, steps aside after 22 years on screen.

"I worked with a lot of good people. Des Lynam was the best, I was fortunate to have him," said Hansen.

"As a pundit it helps if you've been a top-class player and won a bit, it also helps if you're forthright and you speak your mind. Before I became a pundit I never liked any of them. I always thought they never knew what they were talking about.

"I thought I wasn't going to like Jimmy Hill, but within five minutes I loved him."

He added: "Twenty-two years on an iconic programme, with the best people working for the best organisation, it can't get much better than that."

Go out on a high Alan...

BBC Radio 5 live

German football expert Raphael Honigstein: "One step at a time has been the policy of this Germany team and it has done them a great service. The German FA are reluctant to talk about dynasty but we have young players in the pipeline.

"Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus would have lit up this tournament but couldn't be here through injury. Joachim Low has a harder job now leaving players behind, there are very few national managers who have had so much choice, the team doesn't pick its self anymore."

BBC Sport Chief Football Writer Phil McNulty at the Maracana

"If you open your windows back in England and the wind is blowing in the right direction you should be able to hear this music in the Maracana."

Confidence is sky high in the German corner. Nothing like a 7-1 win in the semis to boost your chances eh?

Image source, Getty Images

We should have the teams confirmed for you soon. If any members of that Germany team have been left out they have every right to feel disgusted...

Jason Mohammad
BBC Sport presenter in Rio

"They think they've already won it!"

From Avenida Atlantica to Zamorano - take a look at our A-Z of the World Cup in Brazil.

Who will forget the vanishing spray, water breaks or Luis Suarez's bite...?

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Fifa's guest list for tonight makes for interesting reading.

Aside from numerous heads of state, Executive Committee members and Shakira, former Leeds midfielder Olivier Dacourt and even more bizarrely actor Daniel Craig have made it on to the 'VVIP list.', external

Makes sense I suppose.

"We need a British representative. Any ideas?"

"James Bond?"

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Four years ago Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller won the Golden Boot with a haul of five goals and three assists.

The 24-year-old could make it back-to-back trophies tonight with a goal, which would be a historic achievement. No player has ever won the award more than once.

Muller has five goals in Brazil, one behind current pace setter James Rodriguez of Colombia. He has more assists (three) so one goal would be enough for him to take the honour.

Lionel Messi could earn the boot with a hat-trick tonight. That may bump his rating up a notch...

Former England international Chris Waddle
BBC Radio 5 live

"We're not going to get 'ole, ole' football from Argentina. It will be a disciplined performance from a team who will say: 'If this goes to penalties we'll take our chances'.

"Argentina will sit deep, with a total of seven defensive players plus the goalkeeper makes eight. They will hope Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero can go on the counter attack and produce a bit of magic, but if not then Ezequiel Garay and Martin Demichelis are dangerous from set pieces."

Three-time time trial world champion Tony Martin, the German winner of Stage nine of the Tour de France is confident it will be a double celebration in his homeland tonight.

He has got a tough stage 10 coming up on Monday with four mountain climbs but he is hoping to watch the game tonight. When asked who would win, he said: "Germany." When asked why Germany would win, he replied: "Because we are German. 3-0."

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Everyone in Brazil has gone World Cup mad. Canines included.

You can watch live and uninterrupted coverage of the World Cup final on BBC One with Match of the Day starting at 19:00 BST.

Gary Lineker will present the programme from Rio and will be joined by pundits Alan Hansen, in his final BBC appearance, Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand and Clarence Seedorf.

BBC Radio 5 live's build-up to the final is already under way with Mike Ingham on the commentary mic for the final time, alongside Alan Green. They will be joined by co-commentators Chris Waddle and Danny Mills.

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live

"It would be massive for Argentina to win the World Cup on the patch of their rivals Brazil. But it will be hard for them against Germany.

"The Germans' performance against Brazil was not outstanding - it sounds strange but they were 5-0 up and hadn't really done an awful lot to win the game. They soaked up the pressure in first 10 minutes and then just played their normal game, and that is exactly what I think they will do against Argentina."

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These sides may have served up a classic in 1986 but they made up for it four years later.

The 1990 showpiece was a dud. A poor, poor game settled by Andreas Brehme's late penalty and most memorable for two red cards shown to Argentina's Gustavo Dezotti and Pedro Monzon.

So two finals between Argentina and (West) Germany. One win each...

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"He's onside!

"Burruchaga is through for Argentina - can he do it?

"It's there! Burruchaga has made it 3-2! Amazing scenes here..."

John Motson was left as excitable as ever as Argentina sealed the 1986 World Cup with victory over West Germany in Mexico.

Jose Burruchaga ran on to Diego Maradona's defence-splitting pass to stab home the winner. A classic final - arguably the last great one...

Shakira doesn't miss a World Cup final if she can help it, and the Colombian superstar is out on stage at the moment entertaining the Maracana crowd. She's lasted longer in the tournament than partner Gerard Pique.

Don't feel too bad for the Spain defender though; Shakira said this week, external that while Pique was affected by his early exit, ''I have a way of consoling him.''

So not everybody is sure that Lionel Messi has been at his best in the tournament.

But we want to know what rating you'd give Messi for his performances at Brazil 2014. Have your say via the voting section on this page. Terms and conditions can be read here. Voting will close at 18:45 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

Former England captain Gary Lineker
BBC Sport

Image source, AP

"Lionel Messi has had some magical moments at this World Cup and dug Argentina out of a hole on occasions in the group stage, but his overall performance so far has been staccato.

"His father says Messi is exhausted and, no matter how much he wants to, it will not be easy for him to turn it on in the final.

"He is a special player, and he is still scoring goals, but I am not convinced he will play in the way we know he can because he looks so jaded."

Read more of Gary Lineker's thoughts on Lionel Messi here.

Former Blackburn Rovers striker Jason Roberts
BBC Radio 5 live

"Playing for Barcelona Lionel Messi is asked to do a different job than he is for Argentina. I saw him live for the first time at this World Cup and I was so excited. Against Nigeria he scored two goals but he didn't dominate in the way I thought he would - because Argentina don't dominate the way Barcelona do.

"I think he plays too deep, I like him played further up the pitch, there was a stat saying that against Netherlands he only had three touches in the final third - that is not what you want."

Four goals in the tournament, captaining your side to the final - most players would take that.

But when you are Lionel Messi, even that isn't enough. Has Messi shone, or underperformed at the World Cup? The jury is out...