BREAKING: Lionel #Messi Scores As #Argentina Wallop #Croatia To Reach Qatar #FIFAWorldCup Final—-Argentina reached the World Cup final for the first time since 2014 with a 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia as a masterful Lionel Messi scored a penalty and Julian Alvarez struck a sensational brace.
Messi, looking to win the World Cup for the first time in his fifth and likely final appearance at the tournament, fired home a first-half penalty to become Argentina’s all-time top scorer in the competition with 11 goals.
Alvarez ran half the length of the pitch to double the Albiceleste’s lead, before Messi went on a dazzling dribble after the break to set up Alvarez for a tap-in.
Messi equalled Diego Maradona’s record of eight World Cup assists for Argentina, while this was his 25th World Cup appearance – matching the record of Germany legend Lothar Matthaus.
The 35-year-old will now captain his country against France or Morocco in Sunday’s final as Argentina look to become world champions for the first time since the Maradona-inspired campaign of 1986, and the third time overall.
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