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His title dream lives on: Lionel Messi (35) is in the World Cup final with Argentina!

There is a 3-0 win against Croatia.

Outstanding: Messi and Julian Alvarez (22) are involved in all goals!

34 minutes: There are penalties! Alvarez runs around Lovren, then passes the ball past goalkeeper Livakovic and is fouled. Messi will take the penalty. He slams the ball under the crossbar. 1:0!

AMAZING, MESSI!

The Croatians are furious because of the whistle! So much so that assistant coach Mario Mandzukic (36) gets kicked out with red.

Messi redeems millions of Argentines with it. Not only because of the hit but also because of several scenes before it: again and again, he grabs his thigh. Then, during the game, he has to stretch.

The goal is like a loosened knot. Because then there is magic!

39 minutes: Croatia is far too open in midfield after a corner. Messi wins the decisive duel against Brozovic and snoops on Alvarez. He starts running and just can't be stopped. In the penalty area, he is lucky that neither Juranovic nor Sosa can clear the ball. In the end, Alvarez hits from close range. 2:0!

Not quite like Maradona in the 1986 World Cup against England or Messi in 2007 against Getafe. But still a solo goal for World Cup history!

69 minutes: Messi magic again! He plays Leipzig defender Gvardiol completely dizzy. He runs into the box and finds Alvarez. He only has to push in from five meters. 3:0!

Unlike in the quarterfinals against Brazil, Croatia will not come back. Lovren missed the best chance in front of the goal (62').

After losing the 2018 World Cup final, the Croatians have come a long way again, but it is not enough for the title. Hence, great sadness not only among the golden generation for midfield ace Luka Modric (37) but also for "Miss Croatia" and noble fan Ivana Knöll (30).

On the other hand, Messi gilded a record evening: With his 11th goal, he surpasses Gabriel Batistuta (53) and is Argentina's sole World Cup record scorer. In addition, Messi has drawn level with record holder Lothar Matthäus in his 25th World Cup game. The six-time world footballer will take the lead on Sunday in the final (4 p.m.).

The road is clear: after 1978 and 1986, Messi should bring the World Cup back home. In 2006 and 2010, Messi failed in the quarterfinals, and in 2014 in the final against Germany. In 2018, Argentina was knocked out by France in the round of 16.

Now Messi has another chance to lift his World Cup trophy. The only question is how to fit his thigh for the grand finale...