Messi’s Argentina reached
Qatar’s LUSAIL — With Argentina, Lionel Messi is back in the World Cup final and aiming to capture the sport’s top honor for the first time.
And at 35, he’s not exactly playing at his best.
Argentina defeated Croatia 3-0 on Tuesday, with Messi scoring a penalty and helping Julián lvarez score the other two goals. This victory secured Argentina a spot in Sunday’s championship game against either France or Morocco.
It may be Messi’s final appearance at the World Cup, as Argentina lost the other final to Germany in 2014. This will be Messi’s second World Cup final.
It could still be the ideal way for a player who is widely regarded as one of the best players in the game, if not the best, to retire.
With his swivel and driving run to set up lvarez’s third goal in the 69th minute, Messi epitomized his confidence and swagger and continued to enthrall his legion of fans. By scoring in five of his six games in Qatar, he is embracing the responsibility of guiding Argentina to its third World Cup victory.
Even though he didn’t score, he had a penalty saved in the game.
After surrendering two goals in the space of five minutes starting in the 34th minute, just as the team was beginning to feel secure at Lusail Stadium, Croatia was unable to advance to a second consecutive World Cup final.
Midway through the first half, Messi appeared to grab and rub his left hamstring, which must have instilled panic in the hearts of all Argentines.
Was the Argentine superstar going to be forced to leave? Croatia had no such luck.
As soon as lvarez clipped the ball past Croatia’s goalkeeper, Dominik Livakovic brought him down, and Messi began playing with his opponents in a way only he can. Messi then gave Argentina the lead by converting his penalty into the top corner.
After a frantic run beginning with Messi’s short ball and ending around halfway, Alvarez punched home his first goal. Following more incredible skill from his partner, he made the third.
