Messi hailed by press after World Cup brilliance in Argentina win

‘What planet are you from?!’: The world’s media are left STUNNED by ‘stratospheric’ Lionel Messi after his sublime display to put Argentina in the World Cup final… with the superstar ‘dazzling’ in their win over Croatia

  • Lionel Messi produced another magic display as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0
  • The 35-year-old scored a penalty and set up the third goal for Julian Alvarez
  • It put Argentina through to Sunday’s World Cup final against France or Morocco
  • Newspapers around the world hailed the little magician’s performance in Qatar
  • WORLD CUP CONFIDENTIAL: Is Messi truly the greatest player of all-time?  
  • Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results

The planet was once again left in awe by the magic of Lionel Messi as Argentina booked their place in the World Cup final.

Proving that class is permanent at the age of 35, Messi converted a penalty and then set up Julian Alvarez for the third goal with a mesmerising dribble as Croatia were crushed 3-0.

It means Argentina advance to Sunday’s final, where they’ll face either France or Morocco.

Lionel Messi produced another masterclass as Argentina crushed Croatia 3-0 to reach the final

‘What planet are you from?’ questioned Spanish newspaper AS after Messi’s brilliant display

Comparisons with Diego Maradona in 1986 were prevalent, including in Gazzetta dello Sport

And the world’s newspapers took the opportunity to hail Messi once again, drawing comparisons between his performances in Qatar to Diego Maradona’s when Argentina last won the competition in 1986.

‘MaraMessi’ was the headline on Wednesday’s Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy as they reflected on another night of ‘magic’. ‘Leo like Diego’, they reflected, drawing parallels between the two greats.

‘The Alter Diego’, said Corriere dello Sport, who spoke of Messi being ‘stratospheric’ as he once again bent a World Cup game to his will.

Tuttosport spoke of a Messi ‘fairy tale’, saying with a ‘penalty, an assist and magic the records disintegrated just like Croatia.’

‘The Alter Diego’ wrote Corriere dello Sport as they hailed another dazzling night for Messi

Tuttosport spoke of Messi ‘fairy tale’ as he chases the one trophy missing from his collection

Messi has now scored 11 World Cup goals in his career, more than any Argentine player in history.

‘On Sunday, he can crown a phenomenal career with the title he is missing,’ added Tuttosport’s cover.

In Spain, Diario AS simply asked: ‘What planet did you come from?’

‘Leo, there you have it,’ said Marca as they described a ‘tremendous’ performance by the star

Like many papers, Messi and Julian Alvarez were pictured on Sport’s front cover – ‘to the final’

The pair celebrating also featured on the front of Mundo Deportivo with the world in awe 

They quote Messi saying afterwards in relation to Sunday’s showpiece: ‘Enjoy, we will give the maximum’.

Marca also featured a dominant front page picture of Messi celebrating with Julian Alvarez, the Manchester City striker who scored twice against Croatia.

‘Leo, there you have it,’ they say as if Messi had conjured magic, describing his performance as a ‘tremendous exhibition.’

Naturally, there was much excitement in Argentina as well, with Ole hailing Messi’s ‘dazzling’ display as they reached the final.

The paper described Messi and Alvarez as the ‘happy partners and heroes of Lusail’.

In Argentina, Ole said Messi was ‘dazzling’ as the team set up a final with France or Morocco




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