The song books have run their course, the voice is all hoarse, but they cannot stop singing the praise of the man who refuses to let them down. For Lionel Messi, the long unfulfilled promise of the shiny World Cup trophy is making him play the best, drawing up hitherto hidden weapons from his armoury.

Here he scored one and created another in Lusail, the city of dreams, that kept alive his dreams and of his faithful as he and his beloved Argentina found an extra gear to see off Croatia's challenge to move into the final for a shot to avenge the eight-year-old heartbreak.

Messi's Last Dance Is Not Over Yet
Messi converted a penalty and had a hand in the other two goals by Julián Álvarez, leading Argentina to a 3-0 win over Croatia on December 13 that set up a meeting with either France or Morocco in Sunday's title match.

It will be Messi's second World Cup final after lost the other one to Germany in 2014, in what might be his last appearance at the tournament.

It could yet be the perfect way to go out for a player widely regarded as one of the game's best players, if not the best.

"A lot is going through my head, it's very emotional seeing all of this," Messi said in a post-match interview on the field as he looked up at Argentina's celebrating, scarf-waving supporters. "To see the fans, the family, during the whole tournament was so incredible. We're going to the final, which is what we wanted." Messi is thrilling his legion of fans along the way, with his swivel and driving run to set up the third goal for Álvarez in the 69th minute epitomizing his confidence and swagger. He is embracing the responsibility of leading Argentina to its third World Cup title, scoring in five of his six games in Qatar.

Back to old days, Lionel Messi made his World Cup debut for Argentina in the 2006 World Cup against Serbia at the tender age of 18 years and 357 days.

Cut to the present, Messi has played five World Cups for his country and scored 10 goals at the quadrennial event, equalling the record set by Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta.

On the other hand, Modric, the maestro in the middle, ended his night with a deflected shot hitting his head. As the Croatian legend walked away, the stadium was up on its feet, giving him the applause that he deserves for all the years of toil.

The game was closing to an end and the songs soon changed back about the patron saint. The Maradona cutouts were there, but Messi was ruling their hearts and the Cup, now, was just a step away.

France Still Remains As the Biggest Challanger
Morocco, the "Rocky of this World Cup," as coach Walid Regragui calls his team, has already created history in a historical first World Cup in the Arab region. It is the first team from Africa to make it to the semi-finals in 92 years of trying.

Its supporters are everywhere, but the Moroccan shirts, flags and scarves are a scarcity as shopkeepers in the Souq wonder what to do with the leftover Brazil and England jerseys.

Actually now, a step away from the final, its defence is yet to be breached by an opposition striker.

France manager Didier Deschamps, looking to reach back-to-back World Cup finals, acknowledged the compactness of its opponent on Thursday. "Morocco has the ability to defend very well. But it also has offensive qualities to win games, otherwise, it wouldn't be here. But it's the team that defended the best with a very good organisation. My observers have seen all the games and there are things to consider. Our objective will be to create difficulties for them and find a way to score," he said.

So the first striker Kylian Mbappe, the leading scorer of the World Cup with five strikes, will be spotlighted against Achraf Hakimi, who has been the standout right-back here, while Yahia Attiyat has done wonderfully well on the left.

With Kylian Mbappe leading the way at 35.3 kmph, and France players have registered eight of the 13 top speeds among the semifinalists in the tournament.

Mbappe won't have it easy on the wing when he comes up against Morocco right-back and his Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Achraf Hakimi, who matches the Frenchman's pace in the semifinal.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi's top speed so far has been 32 kmph, which came in the opening game loss to Saudi Arabia.