Lionel Messi and Julian Álvarez combined to devastating effect as Argentina secured a place in their sixth World Cup final with a commanding victory over Croatia at Lusail Stadium. Messi now has one final chance to claim the only major trophy that has so far eluded him in his illustrious career, while 22-year-old Manchester City striker Álvarez shared top billing in Argentina’s dominant performance. The winners will face either France or Morocco in the final on Sunday.
Despite early concerns over a hamstring issue, Messi recovered to open the scoring from the penalty spot in the 34th minute, following a foul on Álvarez by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Just five minutes later, Álvarez doubled Argentina’s lead in spectacular fashion. Receiving Messi’s header inside Croatian territory, the young striker embarked on a dazzling slalom past defenders Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa before slotting the ball past Livakovic.
Argentina’s dominance continued after the break, with a third goal highlighting the brilliance of the duo. Messi drew Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol out of position along the byline before feeding Álvarez, who finished with composure and precision.
With this win, Messi has the chance to rewrite his World Cup legacy and atone for the heartbreak of losing the 2014 final to Germany at Rio’s iconic Maracanã. Meanwhile, Álvarez has announced himself as a rising star on the global stage, complementing Argentina’s talismanic captain perfectly.
