Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina's starting lineup for this evening's World Cup 2022 semi-final showdown against Croatia at the Lusail Stadium.
The 35-year-old, who has scored four goals in five matches in Qatar, will represent his country for the 25th time at the World Cup, equalling the all-time appearance record held by former Germany midfielder Lothar Matthaus.
While Messi retains his place in attack alongside Julian Alvarez, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has made two changes to the side that beat the Netherlands on penalties in the quarter-finals, with Nicolas Tagliafico and Leandro Paredes replacing Marcos Acuna and Lisandro Martinez.
Scaloni has decided to switch from a back five to a four-man defence, with Manchester United's Martinez the one sacrificed as Paredes starts in a four-man midfield alongside Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo De Paul.
Tagliafico, meanwhile, starts at left-back at the expense of Acuna who is suspended for the semi-final along with Gonzalo Montiel; Nauhel Molina, Nicolas Otamendi and Cristian Romero complete the back four, shielding goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
There is no place in the starting lineup for winger Angel di Maria, who will begin on the substitutes' bench along with the likes of Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala, while Papu Gomez misses out entirely.
As for Croatia, Zlatko Dalic has named an unchanged starting lineup following their penalty-shootout triumph over Brazil in the quarter-finals, with a defensive quartet of Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol and Bornan Sosa protecting in-form shot-stopper Dominik Livakovic.
Ever-present midfield trio Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic all retain their places, while Mario Pasalic and Ivan Perisic will join Andrej Kramaric in attack.
Argentina starting lineup: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Fernandez, Paredes, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez
Subs: Armini, Rulli, Foyth, Li. Martinez, Pezzella, La. Martinez, Palacios, Correa, Almada, Di Maria, Dybala, G. Rodriguez
Croatia starting lineup: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Kovacic, Brozovic, Modric; Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic
Subs: Stanisic, Barisic, Erlic, Majer, Grbic, Vlasic, Livaja, Petkovic, Budimir, Orsic, Vida, Ivusic, Sutalo, Sucic, Jakic
No Data Analysis info
