LUSAIL, Qatar — Whereas Argentina icons Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona nimbly dribble(d) around and between opposing defenders, Julián Álvarez—so desperate to help the former, his beloved captain, win the World Cup—simply went through them.
Argentina is on its way deliriously to another final, and while this surely is Messi’s team, and in large part Messi’s story, the heir to Maradona has never been blessed with such a devoted and cohesive supporting cast. It’s a group he enjoys immensely, and it’s one that has turned over significantly since Argentina’s limp performance four years ago in Russia. That one-win failure felt like it might signal the end of Messi’s World Cup quest. But there’s a new guard now, led by the 22-year-old Álvarez, that’s robust and focused on contributing as much to the cause as their timeless leader.
On Tuesday night here at the Lusail Iconic Stadium north of Doha, Álvarez achieved what’s been so elusive for so many others—he broke Croatia. The Manchester City striker scored twice in Argentina’s commanding 3–0 semifinal win. He was quoted by Argentina’s El País over the summer insisting that “football owes” Messi a World Cup, “for everything he means to football worldwide.” So Álvarez did his part on behalf of football, drawing the penalty kick foul that keyed Messi’s opener, then putting Croatia away with an incredible goal toward the end of the first half.
