Argentina's master and pupil Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez combined to deadly effect as they reached their sixth World Cup final with victory over Croatia at Lusail Stadium.
2022 World Cup
3-0
Messi now gets one last chance to win the piece of silverware that has eluded him in his trophy-laden career but Manchester City's 22-year-old striker Alvarez claimed at least an equal share of top billing as Argentina ensured they will return here on Sunday to face either France or Morocco.
Argentina's little genius looked to be struggling with a hamstring problem early on but recovered enough to break the deadlock from the penalty spot after 34 minutes following Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic's foul on the marauding Alvarez.
Alvarez doubled Argentina's lead five minutes later when he took Messi's header just inside Croatian territory and embarked on a slaloming run, aided by fortunate bounces off Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa, before beating Livakovic.
There was no fortune involved in a brilliant third after the break as Messi mesmerised Croatia's excellent defender Josko Gvardiol on the byeline before playing in Alvarez for the finish.
Messi will now have the opportunity to make amends for the bitter disappointment of losing the 2014 World Cup final to Germany in Rio's iconic Maracana.
Match Events
25' Livakovic makes a brilliant save
33' Penalty Goal! Argentina 1-0 Croatia (Messi)
38' GOAL! Argentina 2-0 Croatia (Julián Álvarez)
43' SAVE! Fine stop from world-class Livakovic
55' Missed! Argentina almost scores a third goal
57' Messi nearly scores for Argentina!
61' Martinez is ready to step up
67' Yellow Card! Romero booked
68' GOAL! Argentina 3-0 Croatia (Julián Álvarez)
Line-ups
Argentina XI: Messi, Otamendi, E. Martinez, Tagliafico, Paredes, De Paul, Nahuel Molina, Romero, Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández
Subs: Di Maria, F. Armani, Gerónimo Rulli, Pezzella, Dybala, Correa, G. Rodriguez, Exequiel Palacios, Lautaro, Foyth, Martinez, Thiago Almada
Croatia XI: Modric, Perisic, Lovren, Kramaric, Brozovic, Kovacic, D. Livaković, Pasalic, Borna Sosa, Josip Juranovic, Josko Gvardiol
Subs: Budimir, D. Vida, Mislav Orsic, Marko Livaja, Ivica Ivusic, Ivo Grbic, Petkovic, Borna Barisic, Vlasic, Martin Erlic, Kristijan Jakic, Lovro Majer, Josip Stanisic, Luka Sucic, Josip Sutalo