Lionel Messi 'proud' to finish World Cup journey with playing in final

beat

with three goals on Tuesday to reach their sixth

 final. They will meet either France or Morocco in the final on Sunday.

After the game, the 35-year-old Messi said the final on Sunday will be his last World Cup match.

"I am proud to be able to finish my World Cup journey playing this final,"

Messi told reporters.

 "What I'm experiencing is exciting. Sunday will be my last game in a World Cup.

"It will be many years before the next one [2026] and I don't think I'll be able to make it, so I hope I can finish in the best way."

Messi scored against Croatia from the penalty spot and provided one assist. He overtook Gabriel Batistuta and became Argentina's all-time leading scorer at World Cups with 11 goals.

"I'm enjoying it all very much,"

Messi said about the 2022 World Cup.

"I feel good. I feel strong to face every game. We have been making a big sacrifice.

"The last game we played was with extra time. That was not easy at all. We were tired, but the group got strength. We played a very important game. We knew it was going to be the match it was.

"I'm very happy. Throughout this World Cup I've been having a lot of fun and, luckily, I was able to help the group to get things done."

The 35-year-old Lionel Messi is the oldest man to score five goals in a single World Cup tournament. Messi also made his 25th World Cup appearance against Croatia and matched German legend Lothar Matthaus for the most World Cup appearances by a male player.

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