Last Updated on 12/14/2022 by てんしょく飯
Argentina, aiming to win the World Cup in Qatar for the third time, advanced to the semifinals for the first time in two tournaments with a convincing 3-0 victory over previous runner-up Croatia on December 13. Ace goal scorer Lionel Messi (35, Paris Saint-Germain) scored the first goal of the match, bringing his World Cup tally to 11 and setting a new record for the most goals scored by a player in the history of Argentina. He also tied the record for most goals in 25 World Cup appearances. In the final match (December 18), he will try to win the world championship for the first time in his career.
It was Messi who decided the match.
In the 34th minute of the first half, Argentina took the lead through a penalty kick, which Messi kicked perfectly to put the ball in the net, and in the 39th minute, Julian Alvarez (Manchester City) added another goal, and in the 24th minute of the second half, Messi dribbled down the right flank, and Alvarez scored the final goal. Alvarez pushed it into the goal and contributed to the victory.
During an interview after the quarterfinal match against the Netherlands (December 9), which Messi won in a penalty shootout, he said to national team player Werhof Wefhorst (Beşiktaş), “What are you looking at? You idiot. Get away from me! The performance was unaffected by the incident, and he scored one goal and provided one assist to lead his country to its first final since the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
According to TycSports, the national media, Messi said, “It was a serious match. We knew Croatia would hold the ball because they have excellent players. We had to run, but we took our chances. We prepared well, as always,” he said. “I feel happy and enjoy myself throughout the World Cup. And luckily I am able to help the team,” he said.
Messi’s goal was his fifth of the tournament. He also extended his World Cup goal tally to 11, surpassing the late Argentine hero Diego Maradona with eight and FW Gabriel Batistuta with 10. He also broke the country’s World Cup goal scoring record.
Messi also made his fifth consecutive World Cup appearance, bringing his total to 25, tying German midfielder Lothar Matheus for the record for most appearances in a World Cup. If he plays in the final, he will set a new record.
According to the BBC, former England international Alan Shearer said, “Argentina reached the final thanks to Messi. Everyone will look to him. He doesn’t work as hard as he used to and his speed is down. But he has magic. He retains the ability to twist, turn, and easily overtake defenders with the ball,” he said, praising him.
Messi has been the “king of the uncrowned” since he was first selected for Argentina’s national team in 2005, failing to bring home a title for his country, reaching the final of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but finishing runner-up and failing to win the Cup after losing to the mighty Germans. However, in the 2021 South American Championship, they finally won the championship for the first time in their career, breaking the “negative streak. This year’s tournament will be their first, and Argentina’s first in 36 years since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
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