According to a report, the World Cup final will be the star’s last game for his country
Argentine captain, Lionel Messi has reportedly confirmed that the final of the Qatar tournament will be his last game for Argentina. Messi played brilliantly in the semi-final against Croatia, converting a spot kick ten minutes before half-time and providing a sublime assist for the youngster, Julian Alvarez, in the 69th minute, as they beat the Balkan country 3-0 to storm in a much-awaited final for the ex-Barcelona player. Messi now has 5 goals in the tournament so far. In the process, he became Argentina’s leading goal scorer in the World Cup, going past Gabriel Batistuta’s tally of 10 goals. Magician Messi now has 11 goals under his belt so far.
Speaking to Argentine media, he said that he was feeling happy to finish his World Cup journey by playing his last game in a final. “It’s many years for the next one and I don’t think I’ll be able to do it and to finish like this, it’s the best,” he told Argentina media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole. After the emphatic win over Modric-led Croatia, Messi told his teammates to enjoy the victory. Defying all odds, the Copa America winner led his team to a second World Cup final. He added that his(Messi’s) team had been through tough situations and very good ones as well. But on the day of the semi-final, they experienced something spectacular.
22-year-Julian Alvarez got his name on the scoresheet, including an impeccable solo goal in the 39th minute that stunned the Croats. He became the youngest player to score a brace in a World Cup semi-final since Pele in 1958, taking his tally to 4 goals in the tournament in as many games.
The men in blue and white stripes arrived in Qatar as one of the favorites to lift the cup. However, after their first defeat against Saudi Arabia, the fans of the La Seleccion lost hope. They lost 2-1 to the Middle Eastern side.
Now that the task of entering the final is accomplished, Lionel Messi and co. will take on either France or Morocco in the final to collect the silverware that the 7-time golden ball winner craves
