Sports Tak Staff
December 14, 2022
Lionel Messi set a new record for the most Argentina goals scored at World Cups after netting his 11th in Tuesday's semi-final against Croatia.
Messi went into the game level on 10 with Albiceleste great Gabriel Batistuta, having already netted four times en route to the semis.
Messi's scored his fifth goal of the campaign against Croatia, drawing level with Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race.
Messi scored the opening goal of the game against Croatia 11 minutes before half-time from the penalty spot.
His first World Cup goal came in 2006 against Serbia and Montenegro. At 18 years and 357 days, it made him Argentina's youngest ever scorer in the competition.
He would need to play again in the 2026 World Cup – during which he will turn 39 – to become Argentina's oldest scorer at the tournament.
The 2022 World Cup is widely expected to be Messi's last and he is one step away from lifting football's biggest trophy.
Messi and Argentina will take on the winner of the game between France and Croatia in the final.