Lionel Messi celebrates after assisting Julian Alvarez for their third goal against Croatia. REUTERS
Doha: A slice of vintage Lionel Messi was on display at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday night.
Argentina’s 35-year-old footballing demigod first broke into a mesmerizing run on the right flank. Then he danced. His twists and turns leaving Croatia’s excellent defender Josko Gvardiol — 15 years his junior – bamboozled. He nicely set up Julian Alvarez for a simple tap-in. It was Alvarez’s second and Argentina’s third goal for the night; Messi had opened scoring with a powerful penalty kick earlier.
Messi is once again in a World Cup final – second in his career. Whatever he touches seems to be turning into gold. And now he is in with a realistic chance of winning the FIFA World Cup on Sunday night – the only silverware that is missing from his bulging trophy cabinet.
Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni was moved to tears as Messi inspired his side to reach the final. Scaloni could be seen hugging his captain after the final whistle, and after an embrace with the No.10 he wiped away tears.
Is Messi the greatest player of all-time? Wherever the Argentine talisman goes this discussion springs up.
“Sometimes it can look like we only say that as Argentineans but I don’t have any doubt,” Scaloni said after the semi-final.
“Every time he plays it’s a huge source of motivation for his teammates. There’s nothing left to say about Messi, it’s a privilege to have him.”
Seven times Ballon d’Or winner Messi sent multiple records tumbling in the 3-0 win over Croatia.
The goal to break the deadlock was his 11th in World Cup finals – making him Argentina’s top World Cup scorer of all time, surpassing Gabriel Batistuta’s tally. Now he has a record five assists in the World Cup knockout stage surpassing Pele (4) since records first began in 1966.
Tuesday’s outing was Messi’s 25th World Cup outing which saw him equal former Germany stalwart Lothar Matthaus for the most appearances in the competition’s history. Messi’s World Cup final appearance on Sunday will see him set the record outright in his 26th appearance. He also became the first player in World Cup history to both score and assist in four separate matches. His ninth assist in World Cup matches also made him the record World Cup assist provider for his nation, moving past Diego Maradona’s long-standing record of eight direct goal assists.
Argentina started their campaign in Qatar unconvincingly when Saudi Arabia beat them 2-1 in what can be the biggest World Cup shock. However, Argentina picked themselves up quickly inspired by their captain Messi. They beat Mexico 2-0, Poland 2-0 in the group stage before overcoming Australia 2-1 in the last 16 and the Netherlands 4-3 on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Messi has now five goals and is a serious contender for the Golden Boot at Qatar 2022.
“To see these people, the family through the World Cup was something incredible. And we are where we wanted to be. We started off losing but we asked the people to stay confident with us because we knew,” he said after reaching the final.
“This group is crazy, we did it. It makes me think of my family. It’s the best for me. We had tough times but we got the chance to experience something spectacular tonight.”
Overcoming Croatia who had beaten tournament favourites Brazil in the quarter-finals with the 3-0 margin would have been sweeter for Messi as Argentina had lost to the same opponent 3-0 four years ago at the World Cup in Russia.
Messi last played in a World Cup final in 2014 when Germany beat his team 1-0 in Brazil.
Eight years on from that defeat, he will have another opportunity to lift the only major trophy he does not have on his honour roll.
“It’s not revenge,” he explained in the press conference after the game, “It’s an opportunity, just like I’ve looked for opportunities my whole career. It’s my last World Cup, so to have the chance to say goodbye like this is fantastic.”
If the great Lionel Messi would ever have a real crack at the World Cup like his country’s legendary player Maradona who led Argentina to World Cup triumph in 1986, was in doubt between 2014 final and the qualification for Sunday’s showpiece.
Messi who was phenomenal for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain will ever inspire his country to the World Cup glory was the recurring question. And Argentina were clearly lacking that spark after that extra-time loss to Germany in 2014. Two Copa America penalty shoot-out defeats to Chile, and the collapse in Russia 2018 – losing to Croatia in group stage and eventual champions France in the Round of 16 – left even the ardent supporters in doubt.
Messi too looked disoriented as he took a break from international football in 2016.
But the 2021 Copa America proved to be the beginning of the redemption and rediscovery for Messi’s Argentina. Again, in the Maracana, the same arena in which he had gazed through tears at the trophy, he led Argentina to victory over Brazil.
That victory was the foundation stone for the team that Scaloni has built – a young side with a wise and seasoned leader in Messi.
“My age makes me feel differently about it, I’m enjoying being in the squad in a completely different way. That’s what it’s all about, picking yourself up and trying again, in every aspect of life. Everyone gets knocked down, but the important thing is to try again and keep fighting for your dreams. I had doubts at times, of course, but thank God I came back to enjoy all this,” Messi said.
Vintage Messi seems to be turning back the clock for the last time at a World Cup. In front of this once-in-a-lifetime player the whole world won’t mind stopping in awe and admiration.
