Lionel Messi’s hope with Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 for the first time is still alive. At the age of 35, he couldn’t be playing any better. Argentina defeated Croatia 3-0 on Tuesday, setting up a title final against either France or Morocco on Sunday. Messi converted a penalty and assisted the other two goals scored by Julián Alvarez. Messi is now the leading world cup goalscorer of all time. 

It will be Messi’s second World Cup final — Argentina lost the first one to Germany in 2014 — and it is possible that it may be his last. It could be the ideal way to leave the game for a player widely recognized as one of the best, if not the best.

Argentina will now face France or Morocco in the final on Sunday, while Croatia will face the loser of the encounter between France and Morocco in the third-place game on Saturday. Probably, it’s the last chance for Messi to win the world cup for Argentina on Sunday. 

Stars of the show

Lionel Messi: Anyone else? He could summon magic whenever Argentina required it, and he felt it. The World Cup of his distinguished career. So far.

Julian Alvarez: Scored two goals and won the penalty kick. His pace in-behind gave Croatia so many problems. Works so well alongside Messi.

Luka Modric: What more is there for him to do? The young talent was so smooth on the ball that he helped Croatia control the game until the first goal. The veteran may not participate in another World Cup, but he performed another outstanding performance, as did Mateo Kovacic, who will now attempt to replace Modric.

Lineups of Argentina  Vs. Croatia Semi-Final

Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Nicolas Tagliafico, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi.

Croatia: Dominik Livakovic, Borna Sosa, Ivan Perisic, Dejan Lovren, Mateo Kovacic, Andrej Kramaric, Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Mario Pasalic, Josko Gvardiol, Josip Juranovic