If Lionel Messi does win his first World Cup title, it will be hard earned.
Messi and Argentina did what Neymar and Brazil could not Friday, surviving a late defensive collapse, a slew of yellow cards and penalty kicks to advance to the semifinals. After Lautaro Martinez converted the penalty that gave Argentina the win, Messi ran to the Albiceleste fans, grinning and pumping his fists before being swallowed up by his teammates.
Messi, arguably the greatest to ever play the game, is just two wins away from the one title that has eluded him.
And Brazil’s exit earlier in the day could provide him and Argentina with a clear opportunity. Rather than facing their South American rival in the semifinals Tuesday, Argentina will play Croatia, which has been living and dying on penalties at this World Cup and the last.
Argentina, like Brazil, arrived at this World Cup as a heavy favorite. But this game for Argentina, like so much in this tournament that began with a stunning loss to Saudi Arabia, did not come easily for Messi and his team.
It didn’t look that way early. Messi showed off his wizardry in the 35th, threading a no-look pass through heavy traffic to Nahuel Molina for the opening goal. He converted a penalty in the 73rd, freezing Netherlands goalkeeper Andries Noppert with the softest of touches.
MORE:Once World Cup favorites, Brazil's talent fails to advance past Croatia in quarterfinals
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But much like Brazil in the first quarterfinal, Argentina couldn’t hold the lead in the dying minutes of regulation.
Wout Weghorst scored on a header in the 83rd. Then, in the 101st, the Dutch dribbled a free kick on the ground and through the wall and Weghorst picked it up, tapping it in for the tying goal and sending the game to penalties.
But unlike Brazil, which was at a decided disadvantage to Croatia, emotionally and tactically, it was Argentina that had the upper hand. Noppert had not started for the Netherlands before this World Cup, making this his first penalty shootout, while Emiliano Martinez thrives on pressure situations like this.
Sure enough, Martinez blocked the first penalty, by Virgil van Dijk. Unlike Brazil, which chose to save Neymar for a decisive fifth kick that never came, Messi took Argentina’s first penalty.
And just like in regulation, he soft-touched it past Noppert. He at least moved this time, but Noppert went the wrong way and Messi held his arms out as the ball settled into the net.
Argentina had a 4-3 advantage when Lautaro Martinez stepped to the spot. Make it and Argentina was moving on, the hopes of seeing Messi lift the Jules Rimet Trophy still alive. Miss it and, well, nothing in soccer is guaranteed.
As Martinez readied himself, Messi doubled over. He needn’t have worried as Martinez buried his shot and sent Argentina into the semifinals.
The other favorites are beginning to fade away. But Messi plays on.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.
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