Lionel Messi, captain of Argentina National Football Team, has revealed the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar will be his last game of the tournament of his career.
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| Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward, Lionel Messi (l) and Manchester City striker, Julian Alvarez scored the three goals against Croatia in the FIFA World Cup 2022 semi final match at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. Messi scored the opener while Alvarez score the other two goals. Photo: @fifaworldcup |
Argentina, in their semi final encounter against Croatia, emerged victorious, hammering the European nation by three goals to nil.
35-year old Messi was very helpful from start to finish in the victory of the Sky Blue and Whites over the Checkered Ones at the Lusail Stadium.
Messi netted the opener for Argentina from the penalty spot and went ahead to set up two others as Julian Alvarez scored a brace against the Croatians to help the South Americans qualify for the final which will take place on Sunday 18 December.
The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward’s goal against the Checkered Ones was his fifth of the FIFA World Cup 2022, and Messi is still in search of the World Cup trophy as he has never lifted it in his beautiful career.
He said: “I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying.
“Everything I lived in this World Cup has been emotional, seeing how much it has been enjoyed in Argentina.
“There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.”
Argentina will slug it out with the winner between France and Morocco, when they clash on Wednesday 14 December at the Al Bayt Stadium, 08:00pm (Nigerian Time).
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| Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward, Lionel Messi, celebrates after scoring the opener for Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2022 semi final match at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. The Sky Blue and Whites have progressed into the final of the tournament. Photo: @fifaworldcup |
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, further said: “We are going to do our best, as we have done up until now, so that this time it really happens – we really win it.
“I have been enjoying it the past few years, being with the national side. I am really enjoying everything that is happening to us.
“To get the Copa America, to reach the World Cup with 36 games unbeaten, and to finish all that trajectory in a final is just incredible.
“I hope the people in Argentina enjoy themselves and what we are doing. They shouldn’t doubt we are giving absolutely everything.”
