Lionel Messi orchestrated a stunning performance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Semifinal round on Tuesday, which seemed like what the Croatian manager Zlatko Dalic “expected” from him.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward hit the back of the net with his penalty kick in the first half and he put the match away with an assist to Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez in the second half.
Dalic, who watched from the touchline, claims he was far from surprise to see the PSG star put on quite a show.
“Well, not much needs to be said about Messi’s qualities,” Dalic said during his post-match press conference. “In the past 15 years, he’s probably the best player in the world.
“He was good and dangerous and makes a difference in the Argentina team. He has the explosivity and technique at a very high performance, and it’s the true Messi we expected to see.”
Messi has recorded at least one goal contribution in five out of Argentina’s six matches at the World Cup.
Messi will undoubtedly be a close observer of the next World Cup semifinal encounter between France and Morocco before beginning preparations for the tournament’s final.
