His last realistic chance to win the tournament that had defined his career
En las últimas horas del 13 de diciembre de 2022, dos naciones y dos leyendas del fútbol convergieron en Lusail bajo el peso de lo que podría ser su última oportunidad de alcanzar la cima del deporte más popular del mundo. Lionel Messi, a los 35 años, y Luka Modric, a los 37, representaban algo más que sus selecciones: encarnaban la pregunta universal sobre si el talento y la perseverancia pueden, al final, encontrar su recompensa. La semifinal entre Argentina y Croacia no era solo un partido; era un umbral histórico donde los récords, los sueños y el tiempo mismo estaban en juego.
- Messi llega a esta semifinal como el máximo goleador argentino en una sola Copa del Mundo, habiendo superado el récord histórico de Batistuta, pero el trofeo que define su legado sigue sin estar en sus manos.
- Croacia, lejos de ser un rival menor, llegó al partido tras eliminar a Brasil en penales, un resultado que sacudió al torneo y llenó de confianza a un equipo forjado en la disciplina táctica y la cohesión colectiva.
- Ambos equipos arrastraban el desgaste de cuartos de final que se extendieron a 120 minutos y penales, convirtiendo a sus arqueros —Martínez y Livakovic— en figuras centrales del duelo que se avecinaba.
- La transmisión del partido estaba disponible en múltiples plataformas a lo largo de América Latina, con DirecTV Sports, Latina y TyC Sports como principales opciones, asegurando que millones pudieran ser testigos del momento.
- Si Messi saltaba al campo, igualaría el récord de Lothar Matthäus de 25 partidos disputados en Copas del Mundo, añadiendo una dimensión histórica a cada minuto que jugara.
El 13 de diciembre de 2022, Argentina y Croacia se preparaban para disputar una semifinal del Mundial de Qatar que trascendía el resultado deportivo. A las 2:00 p.m. hora de Perú y Colombia, y a las 4:00 p.m. en Argentina, el estadio de Lusail sería el escenario de un encuentro cargado de historia personal y colectiva.
Lionel Messi, con 35 años, llegaba a este momento habiendo ya reescrito los libros de récords: sus goles en Qatar habían superado la marca histórica de Gabriel Batistuta para un argentino en un solo Mundial. Sin embargo, la Copa del Mundo seguía siendo el único título que escapaba a su alcance. En 2014 había llegado a la final, solo para ver a Alemania alzar el trofeo. Esta semifinal era, para muchos, su última oportunidad real. Frente a él, Luka Modric, capitán croata de 37 años, cargaba un peso similar: había llevado a su país a la final de Rusia 2018, pero tampoco había podido coronarse.
Ambos equipos habían llegado a esta instancia por el mismo camino tortuoso: cuartos de final que se extendieron a 120 minutos y se resolvieron en penales. Argentina eliminó a Países Bajos; Croacia sorprendió al mundo entero al dejar fuera a Brasil. Los arqueros Emiliano Martínez y Dominik Livakovic habían sido los grandes protagonistas de esas noches y llegaban con la confianza intacta.
El técnico croata Zlatko Dalic tenía claro su plan: replicar la disciplina defensiva que había neutralizado a Brasil. Si lograban quitarle espacio a Argentina, el partido sería parejo. Messi, por su parte, reconoció sin rodeos que Croacia era un rival formidable, con un mediocampo cohesionado y experimentado que llevaba años trabajando junto bajo las órdenes de Dalic.
Más allá del marcador, el partido tenía una dimensión histórica adicional: si Messi jugaba, igualaría el récord de Lothar Matthäus de 25 partidos en Copas del Mundo, una marca que había resistido décadas. Dos equipos, dos generaciones, y la posibilidad de que una noche en Lusail lo cambiara todo.
On the afternoon of December 13, 2022, Argentina and Croatia were set to collide in the semifinals of the World Cup in Qatar, a match that would determine which team advanced to chase the sport's greatest prize. The game would kick off at 2:00 p.m. Peru and Colombia time, 4:00 p.m. in Argentina, at Lusail Stadium, with broadcasts across DirecTV Sports, Latina, TyC Sports, and television networks throughout the region.
Lionel Messi, now 35 years old, arrived at this moment as perhaps the finest version of himself in a World Cup tournament. He had already rewritten the record books during this campaign in Qatar—his ten goals had broken Gabriel Batistuta's long-standing mark for Argentine scorers in a single World Cup. But the trophy itself remained elusive. Messi had reached a final before, in 2014, only to watch Germany lift the cup. This semifinal represented what many understood to be his last realistic chance to win the tournament that had defined his career. Across from him stood Luka Modric, the Croatian captain, now 37, who carried a similar weight of unfinished business. Modric had guided his country to the final four years earlier in Russia, an improbable run that had announced Croatia as a serious football nation. He too had fallen short of the ultimate prize.
Both teams had arrived at the semifinals through identical ordeals—grueling quarterfinal matches that stretched to 120 minutes and were decided only by penalty shootouts. Argentina had dispatched the Netherlands in that manner, while Croatia had pulled off a stunning upset against Brazil, a result that had sent shockwaves through the tournament and elevated the confidence of the Croatian squad considerably. The goalkeepers had been the heroes of those matches: Emiliano Martínez for Argentina and Dominik Livakovic for Croatia, both men who would carry that momentum into the semifinal.
Messi himself had assessed the challenge ahead with characteristic clarity. He acknowledged that Croatia represented a formidable opponent, a team that had proven it could match Brazil's intensity and technical quality. The Croatian midfield, anchored by players like Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic who had worked together under coach Zlatko Dalic since the previous World Cup, possessed a cohesion and understanding that made them dangerous. It would be, Messi said plainly, an extremely difficult match.
Dalic, the Croatian manager, had his own read on the contest. He believed the key to his team's advancement lay in replicating the defensive discipline they had shown against Brazil. If Croatia could deny Argentina the space and freedom the South Americans thrived on, the match would remain competitive. It was a tactical assessment born from genuine success—Dalic had already proven he could navigate the World Cup's highest stages, having taken a relatively modest Croatian side to the final in 2018.
The match carried historical weight beyond the immediate stakes. For Messi, this would be his 25th appearance in a World Cup tournament. If he took the field, he would equal Lothar Matthäus's record for most World Cup matches played by any player in history. The German midfielder's mark had stood for decades; now Messi stood on the threshold of matching it. Should he score again, he would extend his own newly minted record for Argentine goals in a single World Cup.
Argentina would likely field a lineup built around Messi's strengths, with Julián Álvarez as a dynamic forward partner and the midfield anchored by Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo Fernández. Cristian Romero and Nicolás Otamendi would anchor the defense, with Emiliano Martínez in goal. Croatia countered with Andrej Kramaric leading the attack, supported by the creative presence of Modric and the physical presence of Ivan Perisic on the wing. Both teams had earned their place here through excellence and resilience. Now they would meet to determine who would advance to the final.
Notable Quotes
It will be an extremely difficult match. Croatia is a great team that played Brazil as equals and at times was much better.— Lionel Messi
The key will be our defense. If we repeat what we did against Brazil, they won't have the space they need.— Zlatko Dalic, Croatian coach
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
What makes this particular semifinal different from any other World Cup semifinal?
It's the ages of the two best players on the field. Messi is 35, Modric is 37. Both have been to a World Cup final before and lost. They both know this is almost certainly their last chance to win it.
So it's not just about the trophy, it's about the last chapter of their careers?
Exactly. For Messi especially, he's already broken the Argentine goal-scoring record for a single World Cup. But a goal-scoring record isn't a World Cup. He came here to win the thing.
And Croatia—they're not just here by accident, are they?
No. They beat Brazil in the quarterfinals. Brazil. They went to penalties and their goalkeeper was extraordinary. They're a team that knows how to win matches when it matters most.
What's the tactical story here?
Croatia's coach Dalic thinks if they can defend like they did against Brazil, they can keep Argentina from finding space. It's not about outscoring them—it's about suffocation.
And Argentina's answer to that?
Messi. He's been playing at a level that's made everyone else on the field look small. If Argentina can get him the ball in dangerous areas, they score. If Croatia can prevent that, they have a chance.
So it comes down to one man?
It always does at this level. But Croatia has shown they can beat anyone. That's what makes it genuinely uncertain.