Argentina have reached the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament after they thumped Croatia 3-0 in a semi-final match played at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Tuesday evening.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring after he converted a spot kick in the 34th minute. The Argentines were awarded a penalty after Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic had fouled Julián Álvarez inside the box.
Messi beat Gabriel Batistuta’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record as he has scored 11 goals in the global showpiece. The 35-year-old Messi became the first Argentine player to score in three successive World Cup knockout stage matches.
Messi has now equalled former West Germany defender-cum-midfielder Lothar Matthaus’ number of most World Cup appearances, 25.
Manchester City’s Álvarez made it 2-0 after a counter attack in the 39th minute. That was the 22-year-old Álvarez’s third goal in this tournament.
Álvarez completed his brace in the 69th minute following a Messi assist. That was Álvarez’s fourth goal of the tournament.
