KEY POINTS
- Lionel Messi has made 25 World Cup appearances
- He is yet to win the coveted trophy
- Argentina have qualified for the final
Lionel Messi has confirmed Sunday’s final would mark the end of his World Cup journey.
Messi scored a goal and provided an assist in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Croatia in the semi-final of the World Cup on Tuesday. The Men in Blue and White will now face off against the winner of the second last-four game, which is between France and Morocco.
Playing in his fifth World Cup, Messi has netted five goals and three assists for Argentina in Qatar. This is Argentina’s second final in three editions of the World Cup.
“I feel very happy to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final. It’s many years before the next one and I don’t think I’ll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it’s the best,” Messi told Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole.
The 35-year-old forward has taken his World Cup goals tally to 11, the most by an Argentinian player. Messi also holds the record for most World Cup appearances (25).
“It’s all well and good (the records), but the important thing is to be able to achieve the group objective, which is the most beautiful thing of all. We’re just one step away, after fighting hard, and we’re going to give everything to try to make it happen this time,” added Messi.
On Tuesday, while Messi’s goal was through a penalty, his assist for young Julian Alvarez was something that became viral in no time. Argentina went into the second half at Lusail Stadium with a 2-0 lead. In the 69th minute, Messi embarked on a solo run, putting Croatia’s 20-year-old defender Josko Gvardiol to shame as the former provided a magical assist to Alvarez. The Manchester City forward produced a fine finish and netted Argentina’s third goal.
Messi, who is yet to win the coveted World Cup trophy, came close to clinching it in 2014. But Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany in the final.
In a post-match interview, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni called Messi the “best in the world.”
“Sometimes it can look like we only say that as Argentinians but I don’t have any doubt [he’s the best]. Every time he plays it’s a huge source of motivation for his team-mates. There’s nothing left to say about Messi, it’s a privilege to have him,” said Scaloni.
The 2022 World Cup final will take place on Sunday at Lusail Stadium.
