It was an unforgettable night even by Lionel Messi’s incredible standards.
And now he gets to write one more glorious chapter in what will become the Messi show on Sunday night.
Messi, 35, was just sensational in the Lusail Stadium as he was on a one man mission to carry Argentina into the World Cup final.
It will be Messi’s last chance to win the one trophy which has eluded him in his glittering, record-breaking and unforgettable career. No-one deserves it more because few have lit up the game like he has and it would also ensure this World Cup would be remembered as Messi’s greatest moment.
Messi became Argentina’s top all time World Cup goalscorer, scoring his 11th to overtake Gabriel Batistuta and he is leading the race in this tournament’s Golden Boot with five goals and four assists. But it was also about his all-round performance as he and Manchester City ’s Julian Alvarez simply destroyed Croatia in what turned out to be a horrible one-sided demolition.
There was an incredible piece of Messi magic in the build-up to Argentina’s third goal when the No10 scampered away down Croatia’s left wing, turned inside and just laid the ball off for Alvarez to score.
Messi held his arms aloft in front of the wall of blue and white fans behind that goal as the Argentina supporters sang his name, worshipped their hero and it will live long in the memory as an iconic moment from this World Cup. Messi had just destroyed Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol who is just 20, had been lauded as the best defender in the tournament and yet could get nowhere near the little magician.
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It also sets up the chance of a dream final with reigning champions France back here in the 90,000-capacity Lusail Stadium which is exactly what Qatar wanted, what FIFA want and the rest of the world - barring Morocco - want to see.
Messi is just on another level and he elevates what is actually quite an average Argentina team to the brink of greatness. That is what special players do. This was Argentina’s best performance by a mile. Not bad for a team which started their campaign losing to Saudi Arabia and were worried defeat in their second game to Mexico could even see them go home.
That seems a distant memory now. Certainly when you saw their celebrations at the final whistle. The connection between these players and the travelling support is inspiring and it is driving Argentina towards glory.
Croatia actually started well, Matteo Kovacic and Luka Modric looked good in midfield but when Argentina needed a moment, Messi provided it. Alvarez raced through into the Croatia box, keeper Dominik Livakovic charged out and blocked him. Italian referee Daniele Orsato gave a penalty which incensed Croatia as Kovacic was booked for dissent and assistant boss Mario Mandzukic was sent off.
Messi stepped up and smashed the spot kick into the roof of the net. And if there was a dispute about the first, there was no doubting the second. Alvarez ran from his own half, there was no stopping him, Nahuel Molina made a great decoy run, there were deflections off Borna Sosa and Josip Juranovic but Argentina’s No9 kept going and then slammed it home.
The third was even better. Messi danced, dribbled and teased Gvardiol before cutting it back for Alvarez to score. That just typified Messi’s night and showed his greatness. Now he is just 90 minutes from immortality.
