Argentina faced off with Croatia in the semi-finals of the World Cup, with the winner set to meet France or Morocco on Sunday.
Croatia headed into the game having already toppled one South American giant this winter in the form of Brazil.
However, the 2018 finalists had no such look vs Argentina.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot, Julian Alvarez then added a second before Messi’s superb assist set up the striker for his second and Argentina’s third of the day.
After the game, Messi broke several records. He became Argentina’s all-time top goalscorer at World Cups.
Messi also became the first player to score and assist in three separate games of the same World Cup.
“You never get tired of showing that you are the best in the world. The whole world stops to applaud this guy and what he’s given to football. Incredible my friend!” Suarez wrote on Instagram.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni also has no doubt that Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer of all-time after an exceptional semi-final effort:
“Sometimes it can look like we only say that as Argentinians but I don’t have any doubt [he’s the best],” Scaloni told reporters after the match. “Every time he plays it’s a huge source of motivation for his team-mates. There’s nothing left to say about Messi, it’s a privilege to have him.”
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