Lionel Messi

Questions remain for Lionel Scaloni's side but there is a growing sense that a glorious finale could be on the cards.

Messi drifts in from the right to operate as a No 10 and it was from that position he created the two goals before half-time, first with a delicious scooped ball over the top (Papu Gómez low cross and Lautaro Martínez finish) and the second with a slipped through-ball (Papu Gómez pulled back; Messi penalty). [There was a drab draw against Iceland](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/16/argentina-iceland-world-cup-match-report) and [an embarrassingly comprehensive defeat to Croatia](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/21/argentina-croatia-world-cup-2018-group-d-match-report). The AFA remains the AFA. Perhaps just as significantly, it stemmed from a midfield press led by the young Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernández. “It’s a problem,” said Scaloni, “because this is the last date we have to get together and train, he can’t be here.” But for Argentina all that mattered was that the 28-year trophy drought was over. [Argentina beat Brazil](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/10/argentina-brazil-copa-america-final-lionel-messi) at the Maracanã to win the Copa América. “But against the last European champions the team did very well. But that is not the only issue. It was clear he had to go, but the AFA, sclerotic and riven by factional infighting, was as good as broke even before paying off his contract. [Messi scored one brilliant goal, against Nigeria](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/26/nigeria-argentina-world-cup-match-report) and there was a spirited exit [against France in the last 16](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/30/france-argentina-world-cup-last-16-match-report), but the last World Cup was a huge disappointment. Argentina went to Russia in 2018 with a sense it was now or never.