Lionel Messi is back in the World Cup final with Argentina on his mission to win soccer’s biggest prize for the first time.
And, at 35, he could hardly be playing any better.
Messi converted a penalty and had a hand in the other two goals by Julian Alvarez, leading Argentina to a 3-0 win over Croatia on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) that set up a meeting with either France or Morocco in Sunday’s title match (2am Monday AEDT).
It will be Messi’s second World Cup final – Argentina lost the other one to Germany in 2014 – in what might be his last appearance at the tournament.
It could yet be the perfect way to go out for a player widely regarded as one of the game’s all-time best players.
“A lot is going through my head – it’s very emotional seeing all of this,” Messi said in a post-match interview on the field as he looked up at Argentina’s celebrating, scarf-waving supporters.
“To see the fans – ‘the family’ – during the whole tournament was so incredible. We’re going to the final, which is what we wanted.”
Messi is thrilling his legion of fans along the way, with his swivel and driving run to set up the third goal for Alvarez in the 69th minute epitomising his confidence and swagger.
He is embracing the responsibility of leading Argentina to their third World Cup title, scoring in five of his six games in Qatar.
Croatia failed in their bid to reach a second straight World Cup final after conceding two goals in a five-minute span late in the first half, just when the team was looking comfortable at Doha’s Lusail Stadium.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was in tears after the final whistle, even though the celebrations in general were much calmer than after previous games. Messi was in the middle of them all as he continues perhaps his best ever World Cup.
Yet there was a moment midway through the first half that must have struck fear into all Argentines, when Messi appeared to clutch his left hamstring and rub it.
Was Argentina’s superstar going to have to come off? No such luck for Croatia.
Messi put Argentina ahead by lifting his penalty into the top corner – in the process becoming his country’s highest-ever World Cup goalscorer, with 11 – after Alvarez was taken out by Croatia’s goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Alvarez poked home his first goal at the end of a surging run from halfway, starting with Messi’s short pass and added the third following more outrageous skill from his teammate near the right corner that left Josko Gvardiol – one of the best defenders at the World Cup – grasping at thin air.
It was one game too far for Croatia, who had beaten Japan and Brazil on penalties in the knockout stage, and star midfielder Luka Modric, who – at 37 – has likely played his final World Cup match.
Summing up a frustrating game for the little midfield magician, he was substituted in the 81st minute.
Argentina maintained their record of never having lost in the World Cup semifinals and have reached the final for the sixth time.
The dark days after losing to Saudi Arabia in their opening group match seem long ago now for Argentina.
“Even though we lost our first match, we were confident that this group was going to push forward,” Messi said.
“We know what we are, and we called on the fans to believe in us.”
