Messi in an albiceleste dream ending

Lionel Messi is history written in the present tense. In his last World Cup in Qatar you will be able to read the chronicles of the final with his name between the lines. Argentina will play its sixth World Cup final.

The path to the great success was opened by Croatia, which allowed their 3-0 defeat at the Lusail Stadium, where the number 10, Luka Modrić, another international soccer great, retires forever from this stage.

Messi and Julian Álvarez, 22, were a pair of predators in a team that ended any hope Croatia had of reaching back-to-back finals. Julián rose to the challenge on football’s biggest stage, becoming the youngest player to score twice in a World Cup semi-final match since 17-year-old Pelé scored a hat trick for Brazil in 1958.

“Julián’s game was excellent, not only because he scored two goals, but because he helped our midfielders. He exhibited an excellent game for his age, ”said Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni.

Argentina gave Messi a second chance to play for a World Cup title. He and his teammates lost to Germany in the 2014 final.

Álvarez was the catalyst of the game against a Croatia that controlled with clean passes around midfield. The Argentinian was quick and in one play he charged the goalkeeper Dominik Livaković. At that moment he was fouled and the penalty was taken and Messi was right, with this, the star joined Kylian Mbappé with five goals, leader in the tournament and will have the opportunity to score more.

Minutes later, Álvarez came to life as Argentina cleared a Croatian corner, grabbed the ball just before halftime and ran straight into the defence. The escalating run seemed to surprise the Croatia full-backs, Álvarez was running through them and once again the Croatian keeper fell behind and the Argentine fired his shot into the net from close range.

“It was a good goal. I don’t usually run a lot with the ball, but the situation arose”.

Álvarez now has four goals, not bad for a player who didn’t even start until Argentina’s third game in the group stage. Argentina confirmed its power in the semifinals, since it has surpassed the five it has played (1930-1986-1990-2014-2022).

Messi has won everything, but the World Cup is missing. He has already surpassed the greats: Diego Armando Maradona in matches in the tournament, and Gabriel Batistuta as a scorer.

deportes@eleconomista.mx