LIONEL MESSI became Argentina’s all-time World Cup top goalscorer with an unsavable penalty.
The PSG star put his side 1-0 up in the quarter-finals in Qatar against Croatia from the spot.
He riffled it into the roof of the net, leaving keeper Dominik Livakovic with no chance.
It proved record-breaking as Messi moved to 11 goals in World Cup competition, surpassing Gabriel Batistuta.
Batistuta played for Argentina from 1991–2002, scoring 56 times with ten of those in the World Cup.
Messi, who debuted in 2005, is now on 96 international goals as he bids to win the World Cup in what could be his last attempt.
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Argentina have not lifted football’s most prestigious prize since 1986, led by the iconic Diego Maradona.
Messi, 35, admitted before the winter World Cup that it would “likely” be his final.
He helped his side reach Sunday’s final after a goal and assist in Argentina’s eventual 3-0 win over Croatia.
And his former Barcelona team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic reckons it is written in the stars for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
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He said: “I think it’s already written who will win – and you know who I mean. I think Messi will lift the trophy; it’s already written.”
Ibrahimovic added: “I don’t think it’s a surprise because I knew they were good before the World Cup. Then obviously in the World Cup everything can happen.
“That they reached the semi-final, maybe a little surprised, but remember it’s a good team, a good nation.
“And these surprises I think the people like; they enjoy because they want these things to happen so they get some kind of extra adrenaline.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
