KEIR RADNEDGE in LUSAIL —- The Lusail Iconic Stadium was the World Cup’s last chance saloon for either one of two iconic footballers of the modern era: Leo Messi and Luka Modric.

At 35 and 37 only two years lay between the creative inspirations of Argentina and Croatia who have won so much in their careers but not the greatest prize of all. This was their literal last shot, just as it had for yesterday’s man Cristiano Ronaldo.

By the end the football gods had all lined up with the magicalMessi. Argentina, in their best mood of the finals, led 3-0 after 68 minutes with goals from Messi (penalty) and Julian Alvarez (two) and duly proceeded serenely and skillfully to their second final in three World Cups.

They could have scored more but maybe saved them up for their return to the same venue where their campaign had begun with the provocatory shock of defeat by Saudi Arabia.

Awaiting Argentina are either world champions France or popular African surprises Morocco who play Wednesday night in Al Bayt.

Both teams had come through to the last four via a penalty shootout – Argentina against Netherlands and Croatia against Japan and then Brazil. One notable alteration had been forced on Argentina however with Nicolas Tagliafico taking over at leftback from suspended Marcos Acuna.

The first halfhour was cagey to the extreme in front of an expectant capacity crowd of 88,966, equal highest of the finals.

The first 15 minutes belonged mostly to Croatia, playing a more positive brand of football than in their previous outings. Then Messi woke up, began to sparkle and Argentina seized command. They underlined the point by taking the lead through a Messi penalty after 34 minutes.

A through ball caught Croatia napping, Alvarez accelerated clear and was felled by Dominik Livakovic after pushing the ball beyond the keeper. Livakovic was booked for the foul, Mateo Kovacic for dissent and Messi cracked home his fifth goal of the finals.

The goal was Messi’s 11th in the World Cup lifting him beyond Gabriel Batistuta’s Argentina record on the day he also matched the mark of Germany’s Lothar Matthäus as the player with most World Cup appearances (25).

That was in the 34^th minute. Five more and it was 2-0. Argentina cleared out of their own penalty box and Alvarez, spotting a gap between the Croat central defenders flew through it like an arrow, benefited from two fortunate rebounds as he approached goal and jabbed the ball past Livakovic.

Argentina might have been three-up before the interval. Alexis Mac Allister stretched to a leftwing corner and Livakovic dived to his own left to push the ball wide of goal.

Croatia made three changes just after halftime but already the die was cast. They just did not have the goals in them. Only once had they scored more than one goal in these finals and that been the four they put past weak Canada in the group stage.

Messi showed them how to do it in his unique style in the 68th minute. He nipped away from Josip Gvardiol, turned one of the best defenders of these finals inside out in the penalty box and set up Alvarez again.

At this point Scaloni replaced the Manchester City striker to keep him fit and fresh for Sunday’s final challenge.

Croatia continued working and running and fighting but, clearly, the game was up. Concession was signalled 10 minutes from time when Modric was substituted. Every man on the bench stood and shook his hand as he left the pitch.

Messi was the master now – and how Argentina’s fans let him know it at the final whistle.

#####