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The Argentina-Croatia semi-final, this Tuesday, December 13, will mark the end of a quest, in the event of elimination, for Lionel Messi or Luka Modric. Same initials, same number, Ballon d’Or, captain, and most capped player of their selection, the Argentine genius (35 years old) or the Croatian playing master (37 years old) will undoubtedly say goodbye to the dream of winning the world trophy .
Cristiano Ronaldo’s message this Sunday, December 11 confirmed what all the Portuguese star’s supporters already knew. Morocco-Portugal (1-0) was the game of the end for the five-time Ballon d’Or who dreamed of taking his country to the top of the world for the first time. ” Winning the World Cup with Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career.wrote Ronaldo on Instagram. I fought a lot for this dream” but “unfortunately the dream ended yesterday (Editor’s note: Saturday) ».
Tuesday, another Ballon d’Or, idol of his people, will also have to choose the words that will accompany his exit. Because inevitably, the first semi-final of this 2022 World Cup, between Argentina and Croatia, will mark the end of a long quest for the Argentinian Lionel Messi or the Croatian Luka Modric.
At the height of Maradona
At 35, Lionel Messi is probably playing his fifth and last World Cup (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022). Seven-time Ballon d’Or, the ex-Barça player has won almost everything in club, and a Copa America in selection. Everything except this World Cup which remains the Grail for the native of Rosario who knows that such a feat could definitely place him higher than Diego Maradona in the hearts of the Argentines.
At 39, Luka Modric continues to push the limits and carry the Vatreni (nickname of the national team) on his shoulders. Main actor of the most beautiful course of the Croatian selection, with a final at the 2018 World Cup, the Croatian number 10 wants to lead his country to the top step of the podium this time. This fourth World Cup, after 2006, 2014 and 2018, will undoubtedly mark the end of the selection for the one who has also won everything in club with Real Madrid.
Modric is his soldiers Brozovic and Kovacic
In this World Cup, Lionel Messi is still the spearhead of an Argentine team which could have joined the ranks if it were not for its number 10. Because despite an inaugural defeat (1-2 against Saudi Arabia), a missed penalty (against Poland), Messi, author of four goals and two assists in the tournament, remains more than ever the guide of the Albiceleste. The PSG player has the legs – he has played all of Argentina’s five matches – to carry Argentina towards their dream of a third World Cup after the failure in 2014 against Germany.
Opposite, Luka Modric inevitably feels the weight of age and of these long years spent at the top level. The Croatian captain, who has been substituted twice in Vatreni’s five matches, is still lucky to be well surrounded in midfield by the tireless Brozovic and Kovacic. These three will be on the direct route of Lionel Messi on Tuesday, they all hope to make the Argentinian cry, as they did in the quarter-finals with Neymar and Brazil (1-1; tab 4-2).
In 2018, Argentines and Croats met in Russia in a group match. Modric’s friends had humiliated Messi and his family (3-0).
In 2006, a kid by the name of Luka Modric made his debut for his nation, Croatia against Argentina. In that same match another kid by the name of Leo Messi scored his first goal for Argentina.
Later on both becoming the most skillful the generation had to offer pic.twitter.com/Vr8AKU1rtS— Ahmad ???????? (@AhmadFPR) December 10, 2022