Lionel Messi has Argentina one step closer to the World Cup final.
He smashed a penalty into the top right corner in the 34th minute to give La Albiceleste a 1-0 lead over Croatia in the first semifinal.
Forward Julian Alvarez drew a foul in the box after beating the Croatian defense over the top. Alvarez was one-on-one with Croatian goalie Dominik Livakovic, and was cleaned out after he attempted to chip the ball over him.
Messi subsequently buried the penalty.
Just moments later, Alvarez scored himself, completing a lethal Argentinian counter attack in the 39th minute to give Argentina a 2-0 lead they would take into halftime.
Argentina held a 2-0 lead over the Netherlands in the quarterfinals before Netherlands tied the game to force extra time. Argentina advanced after winning the penalty shootout.