The first semi-final of the Qatar World Cup will be held at the Lusail Stadium. Messi and Modric, the two great “LM10” will usher in perhaps the most important head-to-head match of their careers.
In 2006, Argentina faced Croatia in a friendly ⚔️
— 433 (@433) December 12, 2022
🇭🇷 Luka Modrić made his debut for Croatia
🇦🇷 Leo Messi scored his first goal for Argentina
1️⃣6️⃣ years later, they meet in the WC semis 😲 pic.twitter.com/Pnn8Z0gcuM
There is no doubt that the duel between these two veterans will be the biggest highlight of this game.
Since the initials of the two names are both LM (Luka Modric and Lionel Messi), at the same time, they both wear the No. 10 jersey in the national team. So this is also seen as a battle between the two great “LM10“.
In 2006, Argentina played Croatia in a friendly.
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 12, 2022
20-year-old Luka Modrić made his international debut, and 18-year-old Leo Messi scored his first international goal 👶
(via @TyCSports)pic.twitter.com/BpUI2VXoZ4
In the World Cup in Russia four years ago, the two teams played against each other on the group stage. At that time, the Argentine team’s main goalkeeper made a low-level mistake and the Croatian team opened the scoring first, and then Croatia won 3:0. In the past four years, the main lineups of the two teams have changed a lot, but the only thing that remains the same is that the core of the two teams is still Modric and Lionel Messi.
1994: Croatia 0-0 Argentina (Friendly)
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 12, 2022
1998: Argentina 1-0 Croatia (World Cup)
2006: Croatia 3-2 Argentina (Friendly)
2014: Argentina 2-1 Croatia (Friendly)
2018: Argentina 0-3 Croatia (World Cup)
They meet again ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/0O5Sb17rc3
It is worth mentioning that many goalkeepers shine in this World Cup, Croatia goalkeeper Livakovic and Argentina goalkeeper Martinez are among the best. Whether the two “goal gods” can continue their previous high-profile performance in the semi-finals may also determine the final direction of the game.
Emiliano Martínez always delivers for Argentina 👏🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/Xx0H0fGkPr
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 9, 2022
BUILD DOMINIK LIVAKOVIC A STATUE IN CROATIA 🇭🇷
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 9, 2022
No keeper has made more saves than him at the World Cup 🧤 pic.twitter.com/INzKxq00cd