Messi 'plays differently' with Argentina, claims Gvardiol

Josko Gvardiol will be proud to have faced "the best player in history", even if Lionel Messi has taken it to another level in an Argentine shirt to humiliate the Croatian defender.

Gvardiol and Messi were two of the stars of the 2022 World Cup and faced each other in the semi-finals.

But it was a battle that Messi won with strength, scoring one goal and setting up another in a 3-0 win over Argentina.

It was the assist that caught the most attention as Messi faced Gvardiol, beating him twice before cutting the ball away for Julian Alvarez.

Gvardiol was on the wrong end of one of the moments in the final, but he was still delighted to be able to play against Messi.

"I've played against him before, but he plays differently than with his club," said Gvardiol.

"It's a great experience, and one day I'll tell my kids that I played against the best player in history."

Messi has seemingly confirmed this will be his last World Cup as he tries to lead Argentina past France in Sunday's final, and the same is expected of the 37-year-old Croatian midfielder , Luka Modric.

But Andrej Kramaric, speaking alongside RB Leipzig player Gvardiol, isn't so sure Modric is ready to quit international play.

"We all know how many beautiful words have been written about Luka and what he has done not only for Croatia but for the whole world," Kramaric said. "Knowing him, I'm not sure it's his last.

“Old age comes for everyone, including him, but he will remain immortal for the whole world. He makes everything easier and simpler, which is difficult.”