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The fairytale continues, and the comparisons grow. As Diego Maradona bestrode the 1986 World Cup, so Lionel Messi has dominated this one, with another stellar performance that delivered Argentina to the World Cup Final with a 3-0 win over Croatia.
The star man revels in these moments. His assist for Julian Alvarez’s second goal will live long in the memory, a typically shimmying, blood-twisting run that made Josko Gvardiol, a shoo-in for the team of the tournament at centre back, look like a park amateur.
It was the best assist of the tournament, topping his pass for Nahuel Molina at the weekend. That the previous one was a rapier-like pass, built on vision and execution and the other the maziest of dribbles, opposing ends of the spectrum of skill, show the breadth of ability available to the man.
There was a piece of history too – there almost always is – as Messi’s penalty saw him surpass Gabriel Batistuta’s record to become Argentina’s leading scorer in World Cups.
Croatia barely stood a chance. They were, for most of the opening period at least, their usual confident selves, popping passes between the midfield trio of Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Matteo Kovacic and forcing Argentina back. But then Messi happened. It’s a bit like that with Argentina in this tournament.
The issue has been getting the other ten men to get close to his standard. On this occasion, it was Alvarez to came to the party, earning a penalty that Messi converted and scoring a stupendous individual goal.
Even after multiple viewings, it was hard to ascertain how much was skill and how much was luck – there were multiple deflections that went the Manchester City striker’s way – but either way, the charge from within his own half to the Croatian goal will live long in the memory.
Argentina have gone a goal up in every World Cup game, and Croatia have gone behind in seven of their last nine games at the tournament stretching back to 2018, so it wasn’t surprising that the favourites took the lead.
They did so after a longer-than-normal softening-up period, with Croatia initially dominating the ball without ever producing a threat, Argentina waiting for a moment to spring the trap. Save for an Enzo Fernandez shot from range, that was the sum of the first half hour.
Once Argentina sprang, however, they took over. Fernandez played the simplest of straight balls that saw Alvarez racing through on goal, and when he got his touch the other side of the keeper, he was felled by Livakovic for a clear penalty.
Matteo Kovacic was booked for his protestations but might well have thanked referee Daniele Orsato for not sending the goalkeeper off. Messi did the rest, high into the net.
Croatia could not regroup. As they pushed up for a corner, the ball fell to Alvarez on the counter. He charged from inside his own half, direct for the Croatia goal, skirting tacklers, taking a few lucky deflections and eventually poking past Livakovic charge. It was a breathtaking goal, albeit one that was a little more Pumas than Albiceleste.
As much as Croatia have made an art form out of staying knockout games, this was a challenge much more daunting than any other they had faced.
They hooked Marcelo Brozovic, one of the key three in their midfield, for striker Bruno Petkovic, but Argentina seemed unhurried at the back.
Indeed, the best chance of the early second half came on the break, with Livakovic forced to parry a shot from Messi behind.
He would make another vital intervention to kill the game. The maestro took the ball on the right touchline, close to halfway, and tormented Gvardiol all the way to the byline, turning him left and right before cutting back for Alvarez to provide a simple finish.
Alexis Mac Allister, who might have scored in the first half, hit the post late on, and Croatia had chances, with Lovro Majer coming closest from range. But it was killing time before the big moment comes at the weekend. Nobody would bet against the star rising again.
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