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Argentina national football team
World Cup | Semi-Finals
Dec 13, 2022 at 7pm UK
Lusail Iconic Stadium
Croatia national football team

Argentina
3 - 0
Croatia

Messi (34' pen.), Alvarez (39', 69')
Romero (68'), Otamendi (71')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Kovacic (32'), Livakovic (32')

Argentina forward Lionel Messi confirms final will be his last World Cup match

Messi confirms final will be his last World Cup match
© Reuters
Argentina forward Lionel Messi confirms that Sunday's World Cup final will be his last appearance in the tournament.

Argentina forward Lionel Messi has confirmed that he has no plans to appear at another World Cup after Sunday's final in Qatar.

On Tuesday evening, Messi was again the star of the show as La Albiceleste recorded a 3-0 victory over 2018 runners-up Croatia.

After putting his nation ahead from the penalty spot, Messi supplied two assists, the second one of the most thrilling of the tournament as he surged down the flank before providing the cutback for Julian Alvarez's second strike of the contest.

Argentina will now square off against either France or Morocco, who are due to do battle at the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Whoever prevails from that fixture will then attempt to deny Messi a fairytale end in terms of silverware won during his career, the 35-year-old having secured every other possible accolade for club and country, as well as an individual perspective.

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after Julian Alvarez scores their third goal on December 13, 2022© Reuters

Messi will turn 39 years of age when the next edition of the World Cup is staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.

Taking that into consideration, the Paris Saint-Germain attacker has admitted that he is in line to make his last-ever outing at the World Cup at the weekend.

Speaking after Argentina's win over Croatia, as quoted by BBC Sport, Messi said: "I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying.

"Everything I lived in this World Cup has been emotional, seeing how much it has been enjoyed in Argentina. There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don't think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant."

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal on December 13, 2022© Reuters

Messi took his total to 96 goals from 171 caps for Argentina in the encounter with Croatia, now sitting 40 strikes clear of second-placed Gabriel Batistuta.

Numerous records have been set by the Barcelona legend in this tournament, becoming Argentina's record goalscorer at World Cups with 11 strikes.

Messi is also the only Argentine player to net in four World Cups, and is one of just six players who has appeared in five editions of the competition.

During this particular tournament, Messi has chipped in with five goals and three assists, and he will be a near-certainty to be named player of the tournament if Argentina lift the Jules Rimet trophy.

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Argentina's Julian Alvarez celebrates scoring their third goal with Lionel Messi on December 13, 2022
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany11003
2 Switzerland Switzerland11003
3 Hungary Hungary10010
4 Scotland flag Scotland10010

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Spain Spain11003
2 Italy Italy11003
3 Albania national flag Albania10010
4 Croatia Croatia10010

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria00000
2 France France00000
3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
4 Poland Poland00000

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belgium Belgium00000
2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


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