Lionel Messi took Argentina one step closer to the final of the World Cup.
He scored a penalty in the top right corner in the 34th minute to give La Albiceleste a 1-0 lead over Croatia in the first semi-final.
Striker Julian Alvarez was fouled in the penalty area after beating the Croatian defense. Alvarez was one-on-one with Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic and was cleared after he attempted to flick the ball over him.
Messi made the penalty accurately.
Lionel Messi scored to give Argentina a 1-0 lead.
Lionel Meese celebrates with Julian Alvarez.
Lionel Messi’s penalty kick beats Dominik Livakovic.
Minutes later, Alvarez scored an own goal to finish off a deadly Argentine counter-attack in the 39th minute to put Argentina 2-0 up at the break.
Argentina took a 2-0 lead over the Netherlands in the quarter-finals before the Netherlands equalized to force extra time. Argentina won the penalty shootout and took the lead.
.