World Cup: Messi a genius in Maradona’s mould

At the final whistle, Lionel Messi was surrounded and embraced by his team-mates. Sunday and either France or Morocco await.

Lionel Messi gets the better of Josko Gvardiol during Argentina’s convincing 3-0 win over Croatia in their World Cup semi-final at Lusail Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

This was a Diego Maradona performance from Lionel Messi. This was one man inspiring his team-mates through his goal, his assist, his genius. This was the Argentina captain running the show, even when seemingly inhibited from running at full pelt by a slight hamstring tweak, driving his team to the World Cup final.

Even Luka Modric and his gutsy side who fear no one had to bow down before Messi. Even Croatia’s usually noisy supporters fell silent as they stared open-mouthed at Messi’s brilliance. He took his penalty unerringly, helped to create Julian Alvarez’s first and then destroyed the new prince of European centre backs, Josko Gvardiol, by finally racing through the gears and setting up a simple finish for Alvarez.

When Messi came alive, so did Argentina. When Messi began to show his heavyweight class, the semi-final sparring was done and dusted. Argentina went for the kill, making a mockery of all that early Croatia pressure, all those sweet, swift triangles between Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic. These moves resembled an affront to Messi, who bided his time, and then sprang into action.

It was actually after Messi had leant forward, and began stretching his left hamstring, as if feeling the sinew tighten, that Argentina moved freely forward. “Messi, Messi” came the constant celebration from the Argentine choirs, who were in their thousands. On the streets, in the souks, you couldn’t move for fans in Messi 10 shirts. They came to pay homage, and hope for a final chance. “Muchachos, ahora nos volvimos’ a ilusionar,” or “Boys, now we are excited again” they sang, signalling their excitement. Messi did not let them down, turning their dreams into reality, following the deeds of the late, great Maradona, whose face adorned fans’ banners. Messi was immense - and he wasn’t even at full speed.

Fears of an injury dissolved in a blur of movement. His clever, twisting movement, the ball his eager Tango-partner, led Croatia a merry dance. His mere presence scared Croatia. At one point five of Zlatko Dalic’s players tried to dispossess him and he dribbled his way clear. He turns too quickly. For 10-15 minutes towards the end of the first half, Messi lit up this magnificent stadium, a stage fit for a supreme performer.

Messi had strolled into the dressing-room of the Lusail Stadium, sleeves rolled up, ready to get down to business, and responding to the opening whistle by chasing the prodigiously gifted Gvardiol. Even before Messi acquainted Dominik Livakovic with the painful experience of being beaten from the penalty spot, Croatia were so aware of his threat. Borna Sosa ran from the left to guard Messi. Gvardiol moved across. At one point, Messi received possession wide on the right and was immediately confronted by Sosa, Kovacic and Gvardiol.

Yet for a while, until the tide turned to Messi’s command, Croatia impressed. Kovacic shone. Modric was all scampering, skinny menace. Gvardiol stood strong on the edge of the Croatian area and Messi bounced off him.

Dejan Lovren rose for a cross and took out Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi, leaving the pair smeared across the grass. Croatia were in creative and fighting mood.

And then it happened. The clock on the screens hanging from the four corners of this sweeping roof showed 21 minutes. Messi moved up a gear, passing with inevitable unerring accuracy to Alvarez, the sorcerer’s apprentice who was doing plenty of his captain’s running. Messi was timing his interventions, making them even more telling. He turned away from Kovacic, and the chants of “Messi, Messi, Messi” cascaded down again. Enzo Fernandez drew inspiration, and tested Livakovic.

With those clocks ticking their way to 32 minutes, Fernandez sent Alvarez galloping through. He lifted the ball over the advancing, spreading Livakovic and was sent sprawling by the goalkeeper. Lovren cleared but it was a clear penalty and Livakovic was punished with a yellow as he attempted to play the ball. Kovacic followed his goal-keeper into Daniele Orsato’s book for arguing.

Messi had two minutes to wait for his moment. He stayed calm and focused. He wiped the sweat from his face with his right sleeve, and then ran in. Livakovic guessed correctly but Messi’s strike rose and accelerated and was destined for the net. His 11th World Cup finals goal broke Gabriel Batistuta’s record for Argentina.

Messi was shimmying his way into the final. He turned away from Ivan Perisic, then used Leandro Paredes to block the Tottenham Hotspur player. Messi then turned Brozovic. Messi was closed down in the centre circle but Alvarez broke, and he had only one intention, even with Nahuel Molina and Rodrigo De Paul keeping him company and offering him options. Alvarez speared his way through, taking a fortunate ricochet off Sosa before steering the ball past Livakovic.

Dalic made changes, but the greatest game-changer of the modern era, Messi, remained the decisive force. Those who seek to challenge him, even those of strength and determination such as Gvardiol, can be made to look very ordinary by the extraordinary Messi. The man who won the Ballon d’Or seven times simply bamboozled a centre back being chased by many of the game’s elite.

When Messi picked up possession on the right, near the halfway line, Gvardiol was a touch tight. Messi really opened up for the first time, racing down the flank, Gvardiol just about keeping pace. Having entered the box, Messi slowed and simply beat Gvardiol with a feint, with a turn, with a dart to the line before cutting the ball back past Lovren for Alvarez to apply the coup de grace. At the final whistle, Messi was surrounded and embraced by his team-mates. Sunday and either France or Morocco await.

The Times