Lionel Messi produced a magical display to inspire Argentina to a 3-0 win over Croatia and fire his side into Sunday’s World Cup final.
Messi, 35, put his side 1-0 ahead from the penalty spot in the 34th minute at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday after fellow forward Julian Alvarez was brought down by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
His searing strike saw him become Argentina’s all-time World Cup top scorer with 11 goals before Alvarez took matters into his own hands to add a second five minutes later following a stunning solo run.
The pair combined again for Argentina’s third, in the 69th minute, when Messi toyed with Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol out wide before driving past him into the box and laying on a pass for Alvarez to slot home.
Croatia, for all their control of the ball, were toothless throughout and registered just a single shot on target.
Argentina will now face either France or Morocco on Sunday, their sixth World Cup final appearance, at the 88,000-capacity Lusail Stadium.
Finalists as recently as 2014, coach Lionel Scaloni’s charges will look to land a third world crown after victories in 1978 and 1986.
France and Morocco go head-to-head in their semifinal on Wednesday.
