Argentina star Lionel Messi has confirmed that the final on December 18 will be his final World Cup game. Argentina, who beat Croatia 3-0 in the semifinal, will take on France or Morocco in the title clash.
Messi led Argentina to the emphatic win over Croatia on Tuesday and will earn his 172nd cap at the weekend when he tries to bring the country its first World Cup title since 1986.
"I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final," Messi told Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole. "It's many years for the next one and I don't think I'll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it's the best," the 35-year-old said.
Messi, who is playing at his fifth World Cup, became the top scorer for Argentina – 11 goals – when he scored from the spot against Croatia. He beat Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta, who scored 10.
"It's all well and good (the records), but the important thing is to be able to achieve the group objective, which is the most beautiful thing of all," Messi said. "We are just one step away, after fighting hard, and we are going to give everything to try to make it happen this time."
Tuesday's victory prompted thousands of fans to take to the streets in Argentina to celebrate the national team's sixth World Cup final appearance.France meet Morocco in the other semi-final later on Wednesday.
The agonising start of the tournament for Argentina was followed by a string of victories that have brought some much-needed joy to a country stuck in an economic standstill with one of the world's highest inflation rates, closing in on almost 100 per cent per year, and where close to four of every 10 people live in poverty.