With the limelight on Lionel Messi, it was actually another young Argentine to stole the show in the first half of the semifinal clash between Argentina and Croatia. After winning a penalty which was converted by Messi, Alvarez turned back the clock with a goal that reminded fans of the 'Goal of the Century' scored by Diego Maradona during the 1986 World Cup Quarterfinal clash against England.
After Messi pushed the ball into the path of the 21-year-old forward, he beat three different Croatian players and then poked the ball past Dominik Livakovic to double the Albiceleste's lead.
See the goal here:
Many fans believe that the goal scored by Julian Alvarez was probably a lucky one, with the ball bouncing off the Croatian players a couple of times before finding the net. But there is no doubting the young talent's ability as he gained control of the ball on every occasion.
Back in 1986, in the same game that saw the 'hand of ball', Maradona scored a brilliant second goal against England. He ran nearly 70 meters from his own half and weaved his way past half of the England team before slipping the ball past Shilton to make it 2-0. That goal was voted the World Cup Goal of the Century in 2002.
Then, Argentina won the game 2-1 and went on to lift the World Cup.
Alvarez, however, was not done, as he tapped the ball in from close range after Messi displayed his trademark ability to cut the ball past the opponent defenders to help his much younger teammate to score his fourth goal of the tournament.
Messi also set a new record for the most Argentina goals scored at World Cups after netting his 11th in Tuesday's semi-final against Croatia. He went into the game level on 10 with Albiceleste great Gabriel Batistuta, having already netted four times en route to the semis.
His fifth of the campaign, drawing level with Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race, came from the penalty spot at Lusail Stadium.
