Messi

The BBC won't be showing Argentina's World Cup clash with Croatia tonight, with ITV screening Lionel Messi instead.

[Lionel Messi](/latest/lionel-messi) is primed to be the centre of attention when the game commences at 7pm. However, [ITV](/latest/itv) will be showing the contest instead - and believed they’re primed to win the semi-finals ratings war. It’s not just bad or a yellow-card offence, I’m telling you, it’s brutal. He was part of the Argentina squad in 2006 but they crashed out to Germany that year, who would go on to make the semi-finals on home turf. BBC set to make Lionel Messi blunder ahead of Argentina and Croatia World Cup clash Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.](/)

Messi starts alongside Julian Alvarez, who has been picked ahead of Lautaro Martinez despite the striker scoring the winning penalty against Holland last ...

[Angel Di Maria](/sport/angel-di-maria/index.html) was fit enough only for the bench in Argentina's quarter-final win, and despite an impressive cameo against Holland the 34-year-old remains on the bench, with Leandro Paredes starting instead. Lionel Messi will look to inspire Argentina to the World Cup final as he starts against Croatia [Argentina ended up winning the game 3-0 to reach the World Cup final](/sport/live/article-11528809/Argentina-vs-Croatia-World-Cup-2022-Live-Result.html) [Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fifa-world-cup/index.html) [Lionel Messi](/sport/lionelmessi/index.html) has inspired Argentina to the World Cup semi-finals, and the forward once again takes centre stage tonight against Croatia. - Lionel Messi will again be in the spotlight in tonight's semi-final against Croatia - The Argentina captain is in the starting lineup alongside attacker Julian Alvarez Lionel Messi takes centre stage in Argentina's World Cup semi-final against Croatia as he is joined by Julian Alvarez in attack...

LUSAIL, Qatar, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored from the spot before Julian Alvarez grabbed another with a fantastic solo run to give Argentina a 2-0 ...

Lionel Messi scored the opening goal in their World Cup semi final with Croatia, firing home his penalty following a foul from Dominik Livakovic on Julian ...

He has to make that motion to try and save the ball, he plants his feet. His goal, the 11th he has scored in World Cup finals, saw him eclipse Gabriel Batistuta to become Argentina’s leading scorer in the tournament. That hostility continued after the final whistle when he called Netherlands hero Wout Weghorst "a fool" Mandzukic was one of the stars of Croatia’s run to the 2018 final, but retired from professional football in August of last year. [ITV](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/itv) pundit Gary Neville had some sympathy for the former striker, believing that Croatia were harshly done by. [Manchester City](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/manchester-city-fc) striker Julian Alvarez found a way to get behind the Croatia defence and was fouled by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.

Lionel Messi broke Argentina's all-time World Cup goals record with a penalty against Croatia in the semi-final on Tuesday.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Messi's goal started a stretch of play that put Croatia on the ropes. It was his 11th career World Cup goal. Which African team has impressed you the most in the World Cup so far?

Argentina supporters are 'loving' Lionel Messi's new-found aggression, with Ossie Ardiles likening him to Diego Maradona.The Paris Saint-Germain super.

[post-match arguments with both Louis van Gaal](https://talksport.com/football/1273235/lionel-messi-louis-van-gaal-angry-argentina-netherlands/) and Wout Weghorst after Argentina’s penalty-shootout victory in the quarter-finals, but according to Argentine legend Ardiles, this side of Messi has been well-received. “Van Gaal had tried to get Messi to react before the game, inflaming the fire by talking about how Messi didn’t defend well for the team. “But in Argentina many people loved this new image of Messi. We react and show our emotions. “But you have to remember the context. We are Latin people.

Lionel Messi converted from the penalty spot for Argentina against Croatia to open the scoring in Tuesday night's semi-final to surpass Gabriel Batistuta's ...

](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lionel-messi-argentina-world-cup-28726029#comments-section)Will Messi lead Argentina to the World Cup final? This year is likely to be his final edition of the tournament - as he will be aged 39 for the 2026 World Cup. [Tell us what you think here.](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lionel-messi-argentina-world-cup-28726029#comments-section) He has drawn level with his PSG club teammate Kylian Mbappe, who will star for France in their semi-final clash against Morocco on Wednesday. Messi stepped up to convert from the spot and net his 11 th World Cup goal. [led Argentina to the Copa America title last year](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lionel-messi-greatest-football-argentina-24509052) and [winning the World Cup would complete his set of medals](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lionel-messi-argentina-world-cup-28552875) and cement his status as the best player of all time.

LIONEL MESSI became Argentina's all-time World Cup top goalscorer with an unsavable penalty.The PSG star put his side 1-0 up in the quarter-finals in.

Then obviously in the World Cup everything can happen. I think Messi will lift the trophy; it's already written." [BETTING SPECIAL - BEST BETTING APPS FOR THE WORLD CUP](https://www.thesun.co.uk/betting/20550453/best-uk-betting-apps-world-cup/) [Messi](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/lionel-messi/) moved to 11 goals in [World Cup ](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/)competition, surpassing Gabriel Batistuta. [against Croatia from the spot.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/20705738/argentina-croatia-live-stream-free-score-tv-channel-watch-world-cup-online/) [Argentina's eventual 3-0 win over Croatia.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/20746531/argentina-3-croatia-0-messi-world-cup-final-alvarez/)

Ally McCoist praised Lionel Messi's outstanding assist for Julian Alvarez as 'genius, simple as that' as Argentina beat Croatia to make the 2022 World Cup ...

“His off-the-mark pace is sensational.” That epitomises why he is one of the best ever.” Former Rangers player and manager McCoist was perhaps the most impressed of the three pundits, suggesting that he should already be recognised as the greatest player ever. “It’s not the pace, it’s the slowing down and speeding up,” he said. “He has just destroyed one of the World Cup’s emerging stars,” added Matterface. That goal ended the game as a contest and attention turned for many to Sunday’s game, when Argentina are set to play the winner of France v Morocco.

Lionel Messi scored a penalty and set up two for Julián Álvarez as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to reach the World Cup final.

Dalic went for broke at the start of the second-half, introducing Mislav Orsic on the left and Bruno Petkovic as a second striker, switching to 4-4-2. But Croatia would create little of clear-cut note and they were vulnerable to the break. It provided the platform for Messi to roam, his teammates filling the gaps around him, and also to get runners in behind, particularly Álvarez. Messi was never going to miss from the spot. In each of their previous knockout games at this World Cup and the last they had conceded first. Lionel Scaloni could conduct the delirious hoards of Argentina fans behind one of the goals after full time and the manager was able to reflect on getting his tactics right. Borna Sosa could not adjust his feet, missing the attempted clearance and Álvarez relished the close-range conversion. Croatia have lived on the brink, close to the exit at the group stage; fighting back to beat Japan and Brazil on penalties in the knockout rounds. Messi pattered to the byline and along it before pulling back for Álvarez, who did the rest. It was a record-equalling 25th World Cup appearance for him and his 11th goal in the competition was an Argentina record. The 2018 finalists have routinely gone to extra time and beyond; they never know when they are beaten. He slowed and went again but Gvardiol, one of the tournament’s best defenders, would recover.

A Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina booked their place in the final of the 2022 World Cup after a 3-0 win over Croatia at the Lusail Stadium.

The captain burst past Gvardiol after showing impressive close control in the 69th minute. The Paris St Germain star finished as World Cup runner-up in 2014 and his determination to finally get his hands on the trophy has been clear in Qatar, where thousands have flocked to cheer him in that quest. Messi netted from the spot to claim his 11th World Cup goal and overtake Gabriel Batistuta to become Argentina's leading World Cup goalscorer.

The Argentina captain opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 34th minute after Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković collided with Argentina forward ...

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As each game passes in Qatar, it is becoming impossible to shake the feeling that Argentina and Lionel Messi will finally end their long wait to win the ...

Going into this tournament, one of the main narratives was around Messi achieving his dream of winning a World Cup and nights such as this suggest it may finally become a reality. As for Argentina and Messi, their World Cup dream is alive and well. Once at the byline, Messi cut the ball back to perfectly pick out Alvarez to score. Five minutes later, it was 2-0 to Argentina and there was more than a hint of fortune about this goal. Croatia, who were so livid around the awarding of Argentina’s penalty that assistant Mario Mandzukic was sent off for complaining, tried to changes things at half-time. This was another statement performance from the 35-year-old, who appears to be going through the gears in Qatar as each round progresses.

Argentina and Croatia are set to lock horns as Lionel Messi and Luka Modric will go up against each other once again on the biggest stage.

2006: Two appearances, no goal, no assist. 2014: Three appearances, no goal, no assist. Alan Shearer added: “What a second half performance from him, and the first half with his goal. He has also provided two assists and makes the entire Argentina side tick. 2018: Seven appearances, two goals, one assist. “He’s embarrassing players but with his head up. 2006: Three appearances, one goal, one assist. In what is likely to be his final World Cup, Messi has not disappointed. Their singular win came against Canada in the group stages and the rest of their matches have been level after 90 minutes. 2014: Seven appearances, four goals, one assist. Modric has played a vital role in their success so far. They have proven to be penalty experts though with two shootout wins so far.

The 35-year-old blasted home from the penalty spot to give his Argentina side the lead in the 34th minute, after Julian Alvarez was taken out by Croatia ...

Messi drew level with Kylian Mbappe in five goals in the race for the World Cup Golden Boot - Messi has also drawn level with Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot Lionel Messi surpasses Gabriel Batistuta to become Argentina's top scorer at World Cup finals with 11 goals, converting from the spot to draw level with Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot

Lionel Messi is two wins away from the elusive World Cup trophy. The Argentinian maestro has won trophies ranging from the Champions League to La Liga and ...

In the 88th minute, Leandro Paredes booted the ball towards the Dutch dugout and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk retaliated by thumping him to the ground with his chest. In 2011, he smashed a ball into the Bernabeu crowd while playing for Barcelona against Real Madrid. FIFA must think about it, they can’t put a referee who isn’t up to the task for these instances.” But, at 35, this is most likely his final World Cup and the last opportunity to win the most coveted trophy in football. Messi assisted Argentina’s first goal for Nahuel Molina and then scored a second from the penalty spot. Go on and pass”.