DOHA: At Lusail Stadium on Tuesday night, Argentina romped home into the FIFA World Cup final with a stunning 3-0 victory over 2018 runners-up Croatia. Lionel Messi kept his World Cup dream alive by scoring one and setting up another.

Messi converted a penalty kick in the 34th minute to give La Albiceleste the lead, and Julian Alvarez scored a beautiful solo goal to give the South American team a comfortable 2-0 lead at the half.

Alvarez scored his second goal of the game in the 69th minute as Argentina continued to score goals.

The Argentina captain, who lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final and will play in his second World Cup final on Sunday, will be eager to raise the trophy on December 18 at the Lusail Stadium.

The 35-year-old and his colleagues will have to wait to find out who they will face in the championship game after the outcome of Wednesday's second semi-final between the defending champions France and overwhelming underdogs Morocco.

With his fifth goal in Qatar, the PSG striker surpassed Gabriel Batistuta and moved up to 11 World Cup goals, becoming Argentina's all-time leading scorer.

Both Kylian Mbappe of France and his five goals will be competing for the Golden Boot honour.

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