Boy who clicked picture with Messi shares moments of joy
Sports
Boy who clicked picture with Messi shares moments of joy
LAHORE (Web Desk) - After a 3-0 win over Croatia in Tuesday s semifinal, Lionel Messi and company punched their tickets to Sunday s finale, where they will face the winner of Wednesday s semifinal match between France and Morocco.
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 30, 2022
Argentina got the scoring started after forward Julian Alvarez earned a penalty in the 31st minute after he was taken out by the Croatian goalkeeper.
The goal was a special one for the country, but also for the duo of Messi and Alvarez.
Ten years ago, Alvarez was just like any young fan in Argentina, looking up to the nation s soccer hero. When given the opportunity, a 12-year-old Alvarez asked Messi for a photo.
Since he was young, Alvarez had been clear about two things: He wanted to play in a World Cup, and he wanted to do it with Messi.
“Messi has been my idol since I was a child," Alvarez said, according to his club Man City s official website. "He s my family s idol, the idol of my brothers too. So, Messi. Messi is a hero for me.
"I dreamed as a child to play in the national team with Messi," he said. On Tuesday, Alvarez s dream came true in an even bigger way.
After earning the penalty kick that gave Messi the chance to put Argentina up 1-0, Alvarez doubled the lead by running the distance of the field after receiving a crafty flick from Messi.
The duo wasn t done. As the match ticked towards its 69th minute, Messi darted with the ball into the box and passed back to Alvarez, who smashed home his second goal of the day.
Croatia would never find a response, and Argentina held on to win 3-0, earning a spot in the final.
This World Cup is not the first time Alvarez s photo with Messi has earned attention. After making his first international appearance in the summer of 2021, Alvarez scored his first goal for Argentina in a World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador in March of 2022.
When he found the back of the net, Messi got a big hug. Together, Messi (playing in his fifth World Cup) and Alvarez (playing in his first) now lead Argentina s attack, and are 90 minutes away from delivering Argentina the most prized trophy their sport has to offer, for the first time since 1986.
