Copa America winners Argentina and 2018 FIFA World Cup silver medalists Croatia faced each other in the first semifinal match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Argentina won 3-0 and reached the final.
Croatia will play for bronze medals.
Argentina’s first goal came by way of their captain and PSG star striker Lionel Messi, 35, and Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez, 22, netted their next two goals.
Messi scored his eleventh goal for Argentina in World Cups and surpassed the now previous record holder, Argentina football legend Gabriel Batistuta (10 goals).
In the race for the top scorer of the current World Cup, Messi equaled reigning World Cup champions France and PSG star forward Kylian Mbappe, 23, with 5 goals.
Messi made his 25th appearance for Argentina, and repeating the record of the German football legend Lothar Matthaus.
In the 2022 World Cup final, Argentina will face with the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal clash between France and Morocco.
The national teams that lost in the semifinals will face each other in the bronze medal match on Saturday.
The 2022 World Cup final will be played on Sunday.
Two-time World Cup winners Argentina will be making their first appearance in the final after losing 0-1 to Germany in the 2014 World Cup.
Nothing to separate the sides so far! #FIFAWorldCup | #ARG #HRV
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 13, 2022
Argentina's new all-time leading goalscorer at the #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/kZkMG2BxW3
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 13, 2022
Delivering for their country... again! #FIFAWorldCup | #ARG pic.twitter.com/nCu9SW5Fys
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 13, 2022
Leo Messi Lothar Matthaus
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 13, 2022
The Argentine becomes the joint-record men's #FIFAWorldCup appearance holder this evening!
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 13, 2022
A closer look at today's starting XIs #FIFAWorldCup | #ARG #HRV
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 13, 2022
#HRV #ARG #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/SrZRPqDvA9
— FIFA Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft (@fifaworldcup_de) December 13, 2022
Draußen | Drinnen#ARGCRO #FIFAWorldCup #ARG #HRV pic.twitter.com/iod7Q8G9Mw
— FIFA Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft (@fifaworldcup_de) December 13, 2022
The atmosphere is building...#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/HGeewEaO9g
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 13, 2022
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