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Lionel Messi showed the world once again that he’s in arguably the best form of his career. Aging like a fine wine, Messi got a goal and an assist vs. Croatia in Argentina’s 3-0 World Cup semifinal victory on Tuesday.
His goal came from the penalty spot in the 34th minute, but the assist. Oh, that glorious assist. That one came in the 69th minute.
Messi assist vs Croatia
Leading 2-0, Messi and Julián Álvarez put the nail in the coffin with about 20 minutes to go. The 35-year-old maestro looked like he was a young 20-something again with a dazzling run.
Picking up the ball near midfield he had one the 2022 World Cup’s best defenders, Joško Gvardiol, standing between him and Croatia’s goal. Gvardiol was able to keep up with Messi’s run but was then turned into a pretzel before Messi played a precise pass to Álvarez.
¡¡¡GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL DE ARGENTINAAAAAAAAA!!!
¡¡GOLAAAAAAAZOOOOOOO!! ¡DOBLETEEEE DE JULIÁN ÁLVAREZ! ¡PERO LA JUGADA DE LEO MESSI ES ESPECTACULAR!¡GOL DE MESSI QUE MARCA JULIÁN! ⚽️#ARG 3-0 #HRV #MundialTelemundo #ElMundialLoEsTodo #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/RmFqA9oUPg
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) December 13, 2022
JULIAN ALVAREZ AGAIN
THREE for Argentina pic.twitter.com/Zdt4JW3EBi— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 13, 2022
Poetry in Motion ✍️
This assist by Messi was perfection pic.twitter.com/itOy7X1WJm— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 13, 2022
This Lionel Messi assist was unthinkable. He's #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/qTY6wHDOmJ
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) December 13, 2022
19 - Lionel Messi has been involved in 19 goals at the World Cup (11 goals, 8 assists), equalling the best goals+assists tally for a player since 1966 (when data is available), previously set by Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo and Gerd Müller. Guide. #ARGCRO #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/PFmW5X4x6u
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 13, 2022
4 – Lionel Messi has become the first player to both score and assist in four separate World Cup matches (since the 1966 edition). Magical.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 13, 2022
Filthy. Just filthy. Assist of the tournament isn’t an official award, but if it was then it would go to Messi.
Álvarez is becoming the strike partner that Messi never had at previous World Cups. The Manchester City talent was fouled in the first half to set up Argentina’s penalty kick. He then scored his own five minutes later.
PENALTY FOR ARGENTINA pic.twitter.com/YxqHITlE74
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 13, 2022
TOO EASY FOR MESSI
HE PUTS ARGENTINA OUT IN FRONT IN THE SEMIFINALS pic.twitter.com/bUSJIBlsYK— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 13, 2022
¡¡¡GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL DE ARGENTINAAAAAAAAA!!!
¡¡LEOOOOOOOO MEEEESSIIIIIIII!! Cobra excelente el penal el capitán de @Argentina.¡EL MÁXIMO GOLEADOR ARGENTINO EN MUNDIALES!#ARG 1-0 #HRV #MundialTelemundo #ElMundialLoEsTodo #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/emGCxQGRHe
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) December 13, 2022
JULIAN ALVAREZ WHAT A GOAL
2-0 ARGENTINA pic.twitter.com/73747qp92r— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 13, 2022
Messi's penalty also sets the Argentina record for most the most World Cup goals by a single player. Messi has 11 career World Cup goals.
LIONEL MESSI PASSES GABRIEL BATISTUTA TO BECOME ARGENTINA'S ALL-TIME LEADING WORLD CUP GOALSCORER! pic.twitter.com/njhhcOQoJk
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 13, 2022
Argentina advances to their sixth World Cup Final and Messi will get one last shot at claiming the all elusive trophy that has evaded him his entire career.
Argentina will play the winner of France vs. Morocco on Sunday at 10 a.m ET.
