Messi says final will be his last World Cup game as Argentina aim for third title

December 14 - Lionel Messi is just one game away from claiming the biggest achievement of his glittering, trophy-laden career after guiding Argentina to their sixth World Cup final.

Messi announced, the day after the 3-0 semi-final victory over Croatia, that Sunday's showpiece final would be his last World Cup game, offering one last chance to win the ultimate piece of silverware that escaped him.

Messi got one last shot at World Cup glory after his penalty and a brace from Julian Alvarez swept Croatia away to the delight of the legions of Argentinian fans in the Lusail stadium who, not for the first time, made it look like a game house.

"Throughout the World Cup what we have been through has been amazing and we are going to play the last game, that is what we wanted," said Messi, 35.

"I've enjoyed that for a long time, ever since we got to this World Cup. We asked people to trust us because we know who we are. It's crazy, we did it. .. we're going to play another final. Once again, Argentina are in the World Cup final."

"I'm very happy to be able to achieve this, to end my journey in the World Cup by playing my last match in the final. It's several years for the next one and I don't think I'll be able to do it. And to end like that, it's the best."

"We're just one step away, after a lot of fighting, and we're going to give it our all to try to get there this time."

A far cry from that first group match where Argentina were stunned by Saudi Arabia. Today, they are on the verge of securing a third world crown after 1978 and 1986, a feat that seemed unlikely a few weeks ago when they were in danger of being eliminated.

Croatia, beaten in the second consecutive World Cup in the semi-finals, could not live with their opponents despite having a lot of ball possession. But they once again put on an outstanding tournament for a country of only four million people.

And they had their own talisman in 37-year-old Luka Modric, who received hearty applause from all parts of the stadium when he was substituted nine minutes from time.

But he and Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic were furious over the penalty that gave Argentina the lead.

"We were doing very well until the penalty, which for me shouldn't have been awarded," Modric said of Italian referee Daniele Orsato.

"I don't usually talk about the referees, but today it's impossible not to. It's one of the worst I've ever seen and I'm not just talking about today today, because I had him before and I never kept a good memory of him.

"It's a disaster. Even so, I want to congratulate Argentina, I don't want to take the credit away from them. They deserve to be in the final. But that first penalty destroyed us."

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