Lionel Messi and Luka Modric have won a lot of honors in common – La Liga championships, UEFA Champions League titles and the Balon d'Or Award. Neither is likely to appear in the FIFA World Cup again in four years, but both need that trophy to lift their career to the new level.
Messi has aged, but he is still one of the top playmakers in the world. He has always set up more opportunities for his teammates than they actually seized to score.
Modric may not be as creative as Messi, but he has Marcelo Brozovic and others to share his burden, giving Croatia a better control of the midfield and the pace of the game.
Both teams advanced to the semifinals over penalties. Do they dare to do it again to make the final?
Lionel Messi (#10) of Argentina penetrates in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals against the Netherlands at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, December 9, 2022. /CFP
Luka Modric (#10) of Croatia passes in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals against Brazil at Education City Stadium in Qatar, December 9, 2022. /CFP
(Cover photo: Lionel Messi (L) of Argentina and Luka Modric of Croatia on a flag during the FIFA World Cup game between Croatia and Belgium at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Qatar, December 1, 2022. /CFP)
Host: Li Xiang
Guest: Josh McNally
Cover designer: Feng Yuan
Chief editor: Chen Ran
Supervisor: Zhang Shilei