QATAR FINALS: Lionel Messi sets four records as Argentina defeats Croatia to go to the World Cup final

As Argentina advanced to the World Cup final with a three-goal victory over Croatia in the semifinals, Lionel Messi broke four World Cup records.

Following Julian Alvarez's collision with Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic inside the penalty area, Messi scored the game's first goal with a strong left-footed finish to give his team the lead. Messi scored Argentina's record World Cup goal when he successfully converted the ensuing penalty.

Messi came into this World Cup hoping to set six personal records. While he will be entirely focused on motivating his team to victory on Sunday in the championship game against the winner of the other semi-final between France and Morocco, Messi added four more on Tuesday.

Argentina's highest World Cup scorer of all time, Messi scored his 11th goal in World Cup finals to break the scoreless tie. The Paris Saint-Germain star tied the country's previous record for World Cup goals with ten four days earlier when he calmly converted a second-half penalty in their quarterfinal victory over the Netherlands. He later scored in the penalty shootout as well.

Messi made a miraculous solo pass for Alvarez to knock in from close range for Argentina's third goal. Before setting it up for Messi to score, Messi twisted and turned past Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol in an impressive move.

Messi now holds the record for most World Cup assists for his country with his ninth assist in tournament games, moving past Diego Maradona’s long-standing record of eight direct goal assists recorded for Argentina.

Messi has now contributed to a goal in four different World Cup contests, including three against the Netherlands and Mexico this year and one in a 6-0 victory against Serbia and Montenegro in the 2006 group stage.

As a result, the illustrious forward made World Cup history by becoming the first person to have scored and provided an assist in four different games since records have been kept in 1966. Messi is still aiming for one more record, though.

On Tuesday against Croatia, the PSG superstar appeared in his 25th World Cup match, tying him with former Germany stalwart Lothar Matthaus for the most appearances in tournament history. In the World Cup final on Sunday, Messi will officially break the record in his 26th appearance.

The 35-year-old has been enjoying a standout tournament for his nation in Qatar and has contributed to eight of their 12 goals in their opening seven matches, netting five times and providing three assists.

Messi scored from the penalty spot in Argentina's defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening match before helping his team to a two-goal triumph over Mexico in their second group stage match.

The former Barcelona star failed to score against Poland in the game's two-goal triumph, where he was again denied from the spot, but he did against Australia in the Round of 16 and then again against the Netherlands from the spot.