Lionel Messi has opened the scoring with a penalty and set up the game-sealing goal as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 in their FIFA World Cup semifinal in Qatar.
It sends the South American side to its second final in the past three men's World Cups, and its sixth overall, with victories in 1978 and 1986, and runner-up finishes in 1930, 1990 and 2014.
Messi's side was electric in attack against Croatia at the Lusail Stadium, with 22-year-old Julián Álvarez scoring two goals and drawing the penalty that allowed Messi to net the opener in the 34th minute.
Messi's penalty was his 11th goal in World Cup matches, taking him past Gabriel Batistuta to outright first place on Argentina's list.
He also equalled German Lothar Matthäus's record for the most matches played, with the final set to be his record-breaking 26th.
Of some concern for Argentina is Messi's left hamstring, which he was poking and prodding at various points in the match, but if his performance in the semifinal is anything to go by, he can still put on a masterful outing.
After the first half-hour was an arm-wrestle, with Croatia creating more chances, Argentina took over from there and it was Messi's gravitational pull that created the opening.
So drawn to Messi was Croatia defender Joško Gvardiol that it created space behind him for Álvarez, who was found brilliantly by an Enzo Fernández long ball.
Isolated against the onrushing Álvarez, Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković had little choice but to charge off his line to try to smother the attack, but the ball was nudged to the side and Livaković clattered into the Argentinian attacker, leading to a yellow card and a penalty.
Messi stepped to the spot and rifled a ball high and right past Livaković, who could not emulate his heroics from the past two Croatian victories, both via penalty shootout.
Croatia's desperation for an equaliser cost them dearly when Marcelo Brozović's attempted cross was deflected by Álvarez into the path of Messi, who gave the ball back to his attacking partner near halfway.
The Manchester City star then stormed upfield and got some fortunate ricochets off defenders Josip Juranović and Borna Sosa in the box, and he managed to just poke the ball past Livakovic for a sensational solo goal.
Substitutions in defence and attack at half-time did little to stop Argentina's onslaught, and the faltering Croatian dam broke completely in the 69th minute when Messi and Álvarez combined brilliantly once more.
Álvarez fed his captain the ball near the sideline and Messi snuck past Gvardiol, breaking down the right wing and flying to the edge of the 18-yard box.
He propped, turned and turned again, reaching the byline before poking a ball to a waiting Álvarez, who slotted home first time to put the result beyond doubt.
Argentina awaits the winner of the second semifinal, between Morocco and reigning champions France, which will be played on Thursday morning AEDT.
Look back on how the semifinal unfolded in our live blog below.
Key events
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Live updates
Qatar World Cup semifinal: Argentina vs Croatia
By Jon Healy
We'll sign off there
By Jon Healy
Simon Smale will be back tomorrow morning for Morocco vs France, but until then, you stay messy.
Lionel Messi's heatmap
By Jon Healy
He spent a fair bit of time in Argentina's defensive half in that second stanza.
Argentina is through to another World Cup final!
By Jon Healy
Tears, smiles and cheers all round for the players and fans in blue and white because they are into their second World Cup final in the past three editions and sixth overall.
This is a far cry from their first-up loss to Saudi Arabia.
That was a truly dynamic performance by Argentina once the game opened up after the opening half-hour or so.
Lionel Messi was sensational and he was backed up by the constant threat from Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez.
88' Croatia still pressing for a goal
By Jon Healy
Dejan Lovren had a great chance at the back post after an Ivan Perisic header.
Then Lovro Majer has a low crack from long range, but Emiliano Martinez gets to it easily.
83' Mac Allister tries a volley
By Jon Healy
A neat ball over the top puts Alexis Mac Allister through on goal, but the ball is just too far away and he can't hit the target ith his volley.
80' Modric cops a ball to the face and subs off
By Jon Healy
The Croatian stalwart tried some sort of bullet pass, but Alexis MacAllister stuck his foot out, and the rebound came flying back into Luka Modric's face.
And the 37-year-old comes off for Lovro Majer. A sad ending to his World Cup career (we assume).
74' No hat-trick for Alvarez
By Jon Healy
Julian Alvarez is subbed off for Paulo Dybala.
Exequiel Palacios comes on for Rodrigo de Paul.
Messi magic creates another goal for Argentina!!
By Jon Healy
He danced and danced and danced down the right, turning Josko Gvardiol this way and that, before making his way to the byline and poking the ball to Julian Alvarez, who tapped it past Dominik Livakovic first time.
As it was in the quarterfinal, Messi's supply for others proves the difference once again.
Stunning. 3-0. Argentina won't be caught from here.
62' Argentina clears a chance
By Jon Healy
Another free kick in a good spot for a cross. This one comes in from Modric and in a good spot for Dejan Lovren, but he can't really connect, and Emiliano Martinez pushes the ball away.
Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez comes on for Leandro Paredes.
57' Argentina's attack constantly threatening
By Jon Healy
Another brilliant long ball finds Julian Alvarez in stride down the left, and he cuts back in for Enzo Fernandez, but he couldn't control in the box.
Then it goes Messi-Fernandez-Messi, but the diminutive superstar's off-balance shot is straight into Dominik Livakovic from the corner of the six-yard box.
52' Messi dealing with some sort of strain
By Jon Healy
That may look like a photo of a guy scratching his bum, but it will make a lot of football fans nervous.
Lionel Messi was feeling at his left hamstring in the first half, and then it looked like his groin or maybe a glute when he came back out for the second half.
Nervous moments for the 35-year-old and all the fans who want to see him at his best in another World Cup final.
50' Another sub for Croatia
By Jon Healy
Marcelo Brozovic comes off. Bruno Petkovic comes on.
So we've seen changes in defence, midfield and attack for the Croats so far.
48' Croatia's first chance falls short
By Jon Healy
Another Luka Modric free kick in good position ends in the hands of Emiliano Martinez. Pretty sure most of the players Modric was trying to cross to were offside anyway.
46' Second half is underway
By Jon Healy
Croatia has made two changes at half-time.
Borna Sosa and Mario Pasalic go off, with Nikola Vlasic and Mislav Orsic coming on.
HALF-TIME: Argentina leads 2-0
By Jon Healy
It's all Argentina at the moment, with their attacking raids infinitely more effective at the moment than Croatia's.
Of course Lionel Messi got himself on the board with that penalty, but then Julian Alvarez with the masterful second goal was the real highlight of the half, channelling the spirit of Diego Maradona.
It was also his run that created the penalty for Messi. Amazing moments for the 22-year-old.
Expect Croatia to make some changes in the break but closing the gap to this elite Argentina squad will take some doing.
45' Croatia almost gets on the board
By Jon Healy
It was a good ball in after Luka Modric's shot from outside the box was blocked, but Emiliano Martinez was awake to the cross, and Josip Juranovic could only hit the side netting off the deflection.
43' Almost Argentina's third
By Jon Healy
Rodrigo de Paul's shot ricocheted out for a corner and the ball came in for Alexis Mac Allister, who headed goalwards, only for Dominik Livakovic to make a superb reflex save.
2-0 to Argentina. Julian Alvarez can't be stopped!
By Jon Healy
It started at the back with a neat clearance and tidy touch from Messi, but it was all Julian Alvarez from there, dribbling through seemingly the entire Croatian team from beyond halfway.
Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa got feet to the ball in the box, but those deflections stayed in Alvarez's path and he managed to just poke the ball past Dominik Livakovic.
