The 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinal stage kicked off with a bang, as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0, with Julian Alvarez grabbing a brace after Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot.
By The Numbers has the best stats from the sole World Cup match played on Tuesday:
Argentina 3-0 Croatia
1
Messi is now the top-scorer (male) for Argentina in World Cups, moving past Gabriel Batistuta's record of 10 goals, after notching his 11th career World Cup goal against Croatia. He's now joint-sixth in the all time scoring charts in World Cup History: Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo Nazario (15), Gerd Müller (14), Just Fontaine (13), Pelé (12) have more, while Messi ties Jürgen Klinsmann and Sandor Kocsis (11).
5
35-year-old Lionel Messi is the oldest man to score five goals in a single FIFA World Cup campaign.
25
Lionel Messi made his 25th World Cup appearance against Croatia, tying German legend Lothar Matthäus for the most World Cup appearances by a male player. He will surpass him if he features in the final on Sunday.
Lionel Messi #ARG scores his 8th go-ahead goal at the #FIFAWorldCup, breaking a tie with Paolo Rossi, Luis Suárez and Gerd Müller for most by a man. pic.twitter.com/PV6H4HSSNM
- ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 13, 2022
16
Messi scored his sixteenth goal for Argentina in 2022, the most he's achieved in any calendar year for his nation. His next-best years came in 2012 (12) and 2021 (9). With six assists so far, his 22 goal contributions for Argentina this year are 8 more than in any other calendar year for Argentina
1
Messi is the first male player ever to score and assist in three different games of a single World Cup edition since 1966. He is also the first player with a goal and an assist in consecutive knockout stage matches since 1966 (West Germany's Helmut Haller in QF & SF).
1
Messi leads the way in multiple categories in this World Cup: Goals (5), Assists (3), Shots (27), Shots on target (14), Expected goals (4.75), Chances created (18), Fouls drawn (20), Open-play chances created (14), Take-ons (36). He also has the most Man-of-the-Match awards (4).
Messi is joint top scorer (5) and top assister (3) at the World Cup so far 😮
Never ceases to amaze 👏 pic.twitter.com/wZ96GLhDRh
- ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 13, 2022
3
Messi has scored in all three of Argentina's knockout games in Qatar. He had never scored a knockout-round goal in any of his four previous World Cups.
19
Messi (11 goals, 8 assists) has the most goal involvements in a World Cup (since 1966), joining Miroslav Klose (16 goals, 3 assists), Ronaldo Nazario (15 goals, 4 assists) and Gerd Müller (14 goals, 5 assists).
13
Since the 1966 edition, no player has scored or assisted in more different World Cup matches than Lionel Messi (13 - level with Ronaldo)
Julián Álvarez #ARG joins 1958 Pelé #BRA, 1938 Gyula Zsengeller (HUN) and 1930 Carlos Peucelle #ARG as the only players under 23 years old with multiple goals in a #FIFAWorldCup Semifinal or later. pic.twitter.com/WFXJQ4zwTI
- ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 13, 2022
4
Julian Alvarez scored his fourth goal in this World Cup, tied with Gonzalo Higuain (in the 2010 edition) for the most for any Argentina men's player in a single World Cup aged 22 or younger.
5
Argentina are the fifth team to reach a World Cup final after losing their first game (1-2 vs Saudi Arabia). Only one of those teams went on to win the World Cup - Spain in 2010.
Argentina #ARG advances to its 6th #FIFAWorldCup Final, tying Italy for the 3rd-most all-time.
Only Germany #GER (8) and Brazil #BRA (7) have more. pic.twitter.com/0J9SxjTCb3
- ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 13, 2022
5/5
Argentina have never lost a World Cup semifinal in any of their five attempts.
(Stats courtesy: ESPN Stats and Information Group)