Luka Modric will never forget this humiliating performance by Lionel Messi

Good evening. Just four teams remain

with a chance of lifting the World Cup

here at Lucale Stadium on Sunday

evening. Argentina play Croatia in the

first semi-final tonight, after which

just one more meaningful World Cup match

awaits either Lo Messi or Luca Modric.

Which captain will lead their team to

their own personal last stance? Well,

not many performers get to choose their

final stage. That is the preserve of

only the very greatest. Lionel Messi

already fits into that category, but

Argentina's leading man has the chance

to bow out at the biggest event of them

all, the World Cup final.

European Cup Winners Cup winner Lee

Dixon and 10 time Brio Depal looking for

the run of Molina. Goalkeeper came and

then hesitated and Molina's continued.

Brio Depal looking to switch the play to

the far side of Tagico is trying to get

up a little bit. Nesl Scaloney who is

the head coach of Argentina rather an

experienced head coach of Argentina.

Here comes Alexis Mallister who just

overran it slightly in through the

challenge. Defenders picked up though

instead and poked forward by Enzo

Fernandez looking for Messi. Daniel Sto

of Italovich

again he's got it back again. Chance to

cross Yanovic which is deep towards

Lorren and Rose well but two Argentine

defenders collided

during the game on Thursday night was

the ball that he played the ball of the

tournament to set up Molina's goal

through a gap that foam signal would

have struggled to get through

Pelic on that run.

Messi

gets it back. Tries to pop it through

towards that left hand side tag.

>> But it's amazing the tempo of the game

just seems to love when that man is on

the ball

particularly. He's playing with a five

there.

>> Call chance for Alvarez

to squeeze that goal.

It's close match interview.

Sessa has left it for Luka Modric.

Eventually gets it to him. Karic is

lurking at the far post. Perisic tries

to chip the goalkeeper.

Well, he's spotted Martinez. Off from

Argentina as soon as Modric gets the

ball.

Here's a chance for Argentina at the

other end. And Alvarez has been brought

down. It's been cleared off the line. A

penalty is going to be given.

And it's a yellow card for Lvakovic.

He doesn't have the best record from the

spot. He has missed 28% of all penalties

he's ever taken.

[Music]

He doesn't miss this one.

Liftoff in Lucale

in front of a crowd dominated by blue

and white.

Argentina have been gifted the lead

and his effort is blocked.

Now a chance for the counterattack is on

and Messi has helped it through.

Alvarez is scappering. Molina is

sprinting through the center. Alvarez

might go in alone here. He's still

going.

Well, they stop Brazil's music, but

Croatia might not stop Messi,

Alvarez, and Argentina from having one

last dance.

It may all have been about the number 10

in the buildup to the game, but that was

one persistent number nine.

Boy, he's a tremendous goal. Do not

underestimate the part in it by Molina,

the right fullback. He must run 30 40

yds and it forces the defenders and to

make the decision. Messi's looked for a

free kick here.

This is an incredible one.

[Applause]

Brilliant one. And he just gets a break

of the ball. He takes SA inside with

him.

What a run.

Alvarez's third goal at this World Cup.

Messi.

Here they come again. Mallister. Rodrigo

Depal. He's going to hit it and the

deflection off Vardol

sends it out for a corner kick. Rodrigo

Depal is asking for the referee to

consider it.

First Argentine cornered towards that

near post has had to make a save from

Alexis Mallister

and it's a massive save. What a save

this more chaos and confusion amongst

the Croats. Punched away by Lvakovic.

manages to steer it back out to the far

side for Yuranovic.

And there was a bit of a tussle.

Have to be a little bit careful.

Now it's coming back to help out the

defense.

Messi

waves goodbye to Brovic and then tries

to take on Vardial. He's still got it.

There's three chasing him.

I think of more concern to Argentina

fans is the uh current health of Lionel

Messi who gets us on the Modric to take

this free kick.

[Music]

It's armed in beautifully but referee's

allowing a lot to go here. Rodrigo

Depalist

still down. Paredes with the effort

and the referee still

>> 10, 15, 20 yards higher up the pitch.

It's slightly wider. Povic picking it

up. Kovichic at all. Just sit in their

positions. Kick off the back pass early.

Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez is breaking

into the middle. It's Enzo Fernandez and

Vard out of the game with that little

hook. Messi tries to take on Vard.

Messi flicks it through. Gets it back

again for Fernandez. It's Messi. It's

stopped by Lakovic.

[Applause]

I tell you, I don't care how much the

ticket is to get in here. Just just to

watch this. Look how strong he is. He's

got a big center half against him and he

went flat. The initial ball went flat.

So that's been changed. Argentina have

won it back.

Sandro Martinez on free kick in towards

Lorren who's fighting with Martinez.

Bling almost got there and somehow

Argentina get it away. It's a challenge.

Messi goodbye to one challenge

to get a return.

>> He's not getting any help at all.

Need to get around the boat.

Mic. Oh, here comes Messi accelerating

away from Vardial.

Twisting him, turning him, getting

behind him, setting up the

well. Lionel Messi may not be able to

produce a 90minute magic show anymore,

but his sprinkling of sorcery might just

be enough.

He has just destroyed one of the World

Cup's emerging stars

and sets up Julian Alvarez for what

could be a significant goal. Well, just

watch him here. It's not the pace, it's

the slowing down and the speeding up.

Bloody old things have got him. Then he

goes again, then he stops him, then he

turns him, then he goes again. Off the

mark speed is absolutely sensational.

and then puts it on a plate. This is

this will show it. Just watch this. He

slows him down.

Stop. Thinks he's got it. Defender. No,

he hasn't. And he's off. And then the

presence of mind to just to know where

his teammate is, Ali.

I mean, that was

that was just genius. Simple as a match.

Absolute genius. His movement has

a shot which goes towards Emmy Martinez.

His goal is the noise is throbbing once

again.

Oric

trying to squeeze it towards the Modric

[Music]

and it cannons off one or two and goes

all the way through.

Quickly taken

and immediately on the attack.

Modric on. And that could be the end of

him at a World Cup finals.

Luka Modric. So often the talisman for

Croatia couldn't help them tonight

against a Messi inspired Argentina.

[Music]

Scripts like this are only written for

the greatest.

Luka Modric will depart the stage,

but Lionel Messi will get the chance to

star in a World Cup finale and have the

opportunity to bow out in the most

perfect of setting.