The Albiceleste captain scored one goal and created another, by destroying Josko Gvardiol, as Lionel Scaloni's side triumphed 3-0 in Lusail
How is Lionel Messi still doing this?! The man is 35 years of age. And yet he's back in a World Cup final after playing a pivotal role in Argentina dismantling Croatia in a rousing 3-0 win at the Lusail Stadium.
In a record-equalling 25th World Cup appearance, Messi made yet more history, becoming the first man since records began in 1966 to score and assist in the same World Cup game for the fourth time.
And what an assist!
With Argentina 2-0 up thanks to a Messi penalty and the luckiest great goal you'll probably ever see from Julian Alvarez, the diminutive No.10 tormented the highly-rated Josko Gvardiol on the right flank before cutting the ball back for his strike partner to score his second of the evening.
The fans behind the goal immediately bowed before their god once more, and why wouldn't they? What Messi has already achieved in Qatar is super-human.
However, with the help of Lionel Scaloni and a mix of exciting young talents and valiant veterans, he will have another chance to rewrite the record books on Sunday.
His 26th World Cup appearance will be a final. He will have the chance to win the Golden Ball, the Golden Boot and the trophy that would remove any lingering doubt over the identity of the greatest player of all time.
GOAL runs through all of the winners and losers from another historic night for the one and only Lionel Messi…
Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesWINNER: Messi's penalty-taking
Lionel Messi's game is pretty flawless. However, his penalty-taking has never exactly been his forte. He's even missed one at this tournament, against Poland.
However, his response to the setback has been as emphatic as the spot-kick with which he opened the scoring here.
Messi has now scored three penalties at Qatar 2022 – only Eusebio (four for Portugal in 1966) and Rob Rensenbrink (four for Netherlands in 1978) have ever scored more at a single World Cup. Let's also not forget that Messi struck first for Argentina in their shootout success against Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
So, while it may seem strange to say, Messi's accuracy and composure from 12 yards have actually played a pivotal role in his country's progression to the final, as well as helping him become Argentina's all-time leading World Cup goalscorer (11), and move level with Kylian Mbappe in the race for this year's Golden Boot.
Advertisement@GettyLOSER: Josko Gvardiol
Some top team is going to pay a massive amount of money to sign Josko Gvardiol in the not-too-distant future. He is an outstanding prospect, as he had already proven at Qatar 2022
Indeed, some had him down as the defender of the tournament. Probably not anymore, though.
Very unfairly, the abiding image of Gvardiol's campaign will be the masked man being turned inside out by a 35-year-old forward, an outrageous passage of play from Messi that evoked memories of poor Jerome Boateng being wrong-footed to the point of collapse at Camp Nou a few years ago.
There is, then, no shame in being embarrassed by the greatest player ever to play the game, especially at the age of just 20, but that won't make this night of torment an easier for Gvardiol to forget.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Julian Alvarez
Before this game, there was no disputing that the luckiest solo strike in World Cup history was scored by Saudi Arabia's Saeed Al-Owairan at USA '94. However, Julian Alvarez arguably produced an even better mix of great play and good fortune.
Just like Al-Owairan, the Argentina No.9 was in midfield when he picked up possession and elected to run right at the opposition defence.
Alvarez probably should have passed at a couple of points, but his directness paid off, as he was left with the simplest of volleys after the ball had ricocheted off not one but two Croatian defenders while barging his way into the area.
One could also argue that Alvarez deserved his rub of the green, given he had already covered every blade of grass in the Croatia half, and also won the penalty with which Messi broke the deadlock, after making a perfectly-timed run in behind Josko Gvardiol & Co.
His strike from Messi's remarkable second-half assist means he now has four World Cup goals. For a player who began this tournament on the bench, that's a pretty good return.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Luka Modric
This was just not Luka Modric's night, as so painfully illustrated by a ball being deflected into his face at one point in the second half.
There were some typically terrific touches on the ball, particularly during the first half, when Croatia were hogging the ball. But Modric, for once, just wasn't able to bend the game to his well.
He was never going to stop fighting, of course. The man's motto is 'Never. Give. Up' but this eagerly-awaited battle of the iconic No.10s sadly proved a mismatch.
Modric is unlikely to play in another World Cup, but you never know. As Mateo Kovacic recently argued, his captain is so smart and so skilful that he could continue into his early-40s.
Still, this felt like a last World Cup outing for Modric, so it was lovely to see him applauded from the field by the Argentina fans as he was replaced by Lovro Majer with 10 minutes to go.
It was a fitting show of respect for one of the game's greats.
