Mesmeric Messi fires Argentina into 2022 FIFA World Cup Final

Argentina cruised into their sixth World Cup final following their comprehensive 3-0 demolition over Croatia in the semi-finals at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Tuesday. Lionel Messi bagged his fifth goal of the tournament from the penalty spot, while Julian Alvarez added a brace to put the game to bed and leave the South Americans just one game away from winning their first World Cup title since 1986.

Argentina have lost each of their last two World Cup finals in 1990 and 2014, but Lionel Messi’s men will hope to go one further in 2022 in Qatar when they face either Morocco or France on Sunday.

The 2018 finalists Croatia looked to replicate their heroics from Russia four years ago in the semi-final, but Luka Modric’s side were comfortably second best against Argentina as their dream run in Qatar ended on a sombre note. After a fairly uneventful first 30 minutes, the game burst into life at the half-hour mark. Enzo Fernandez released Julian Alvarez with a through ball over the top of the Croatian defence, and the striker was clattered by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic in the penalty area to give his side a penalty.

Having scored each of his two spot-kicks in the quarter-finals, Messi made no mistake with his penalty. The 35-year-old beat Livakovic with a thunderous strike into the top corner, making him Argentina’s outright highest scorer at the World Cup with 11 goals in 25 appearances. The South Americans doubled their lead five minutes later, with Julian Alvarez carrying the ball from his half on a counter and bundling the ball into the back of the net after a couple of fortunate deflections from the Croatian defenders.

Dominik Livakovic kept the score at 2-0 before half-time with an excellent reflex save from Alexis Mac Allister’s header, but Argentina kept up the pressure in the second period. Croatia introduced striker Bruno Petkovic in the 50th minute, but the Europeans couldn’t produce the same miraculous comeback they did against Brazil in the quarter-finals.

Messi forced another important save from Livakovic from close distance before the 35-year-old produced another moment of madness to help Argentina score their third. Receiving the ball on the halfway line, the PSG forward ran at the Croatian defence and left centre-back Joskvo Gvardiol for dead before teeing up Julian Alvarez, who tapped the ball into the back of the net to seal the victory.