Argentina take on Croatia on Tonight at Lusail Stadium; kick-off 7pm; France play Morocco – out to become the first African nation to reach the final – on Wednesday night at Al Bayt Stadium; kick-off 7pm,

Lionel Messi’s date with destiny, France’s defence of their crown, Morocco’s miraculous run and Croatia’s crusade for a second consecutive World Cup final. England may be out but the semi-finals in Qatar promise to thrill.

Messi takes Argentina into the last four aiming to take his final shot at World Cup glory all the way as he bids to cement his legacy as the greatest player ever. But standing in their way is the evergreen Luka Modric and a stubborn Croatia side hell-bent on going one step further than they did in Russia four years ago. France, meanwhile, are looking to become the first side since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. They do, though, come up against a history-making Moroccan side fighting to become the first African nation to reach the final.

Messi to end the GOAT debate?

When Argentina beat Brazil in their own backyard to win the Copa America at the Maracana Stadium in the summer of 2021, Messi fell to his knees at the final whistle and the entire team ran to their captain.

This was his first-ever trophy on the international stage, the only question mark over an otherwise glittering career. The World Cup is the final piece of the jigsaw.

Having seen Cristiano Ronaldo accept defeat in his quest for this most evasive of prizes, the stakes have never been higher for Messi. Before his Copa America success, Ronaldo’s Euro 2016 victory had him marginally ahead in the now 14-year long fight to be the best of a generation – maybe ever.

Now Messi has the chance to end the debate once and for all.

The celebrations of two summers ago show just how much winning this World Cup would mean to these Argentina players. They’re not just doing it for their country, they’re doing it for Messi.

The diminutive forward has lived up to his billing so far and almost carried his nation to the last four. His four goals and two assists see only his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe ahead of him in the race for the Golden Boot in Qatar.

Previously derided back home in Argentina for prioritising Barcelona over international football, Messi has put those concerns to bed in the past few years and timed his form perfectly for the latter stages in Qatar. He’s scored against Australia and the Netherlands in each of the knockout games on the way to the final four.

This is his chance to do what he couldn’t in the final against Germany in Brazil in 2014. To equal the achievement of Diego Maradona. To bring the World Cup back to Argentina.

Courtesy SKY