Confronting Messi - Modric can decide the semi-finals of the World Cup

Before the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, Messi and Modric had met 27 times, with a head-to-head record in favor of the Croatian midfielder, including 12 wins, 5 draws and 9 losses. In which, Modric won both matches at the national level, when Croatia defeated Argentina 3-2 in a friendly match in Switzerland on March 1, 2006. At the 2018 World Cup group stage, it was Modric who scored a super product from outside the box to help Croatia win 3-0.

The remaining 25 matches at the club level, when Messi played for Barca and PSG played Modric in the Real shirt. Here, Modric continued to be better when Real won the Spanish Super Cup in 2012 and 2017, when Messi played for Barca, and the 1/8 round of the Champions League season 2021-2022, when Messi played for PSG.

In contrast, Messi only once directly eliminated Modric, when he and Barca won Real in the semi-finals of the King's Cup in the 2018-2019 season. In the final, the Argentine star scored a goal, but Barca lost 1-2 to Valencia.

Messi is the inspiration to help Argentina reach the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup when he has been voted the Player of the Match three times. In the group stage, the 35-year-old star scored twice, including a penalty in the opening match losing to Saudi Arabia 1-2 and a great long-range shot that opened the scoring against Mexico 2-0. In the 1/8 round against Australia, Messi continued to make a difference with his left foot opening, contributing to a 2-1 victory. Meeting the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, Messi assisted Nahuel Molina to open the scoring, the penalty doubled the difference and successfully made the first leg in the penalty shootout.

Meanwhile, although not directly contributing with goals or assists, Modric is still the soul of Croatia's play. The 37-year-old midfielder has started all five matches, leaving the field only in the 86th minute of the 4-1 win over Canada in the group stage and in the first extra time against Japan in the 1/8 round.

Messi and Modric once fell together in the World Cup final. In Brazil 2014, Messi and Argentina lost to Germany by Mario Gotze's goal in the second extra time. Four years later, in Russia, Modric's Croatia was defeated by France with a score of 2-4. Another coincidence is that both Messi and Modric have the same consolation, being chosen as the Best Player of the tournament when watching the opponent lift the gold cup.

Both also confirmed that they will attend the last World Cup, before Qatar 2022 kicks off. Therefore, the direct confrontation at Lusail Stadium on December 13 is the last chance for them to find the only title missing in the massive collection - the FIFA World Cup.

During his career, Messi scored 790 and assisted 346 goals in 1001 matches, won 41 titles (two with Argentina) and 78 individual awards, including seven Ballon d'Or.

Modric played 847 games, scored 98 goals and provided 121 assists, won 29 titles, but never once enjoyed glory with the team. However, the 37-year-old midfielder is the one who ended the era of Messi and Ronaldo's dominance with the conquest of the 2018 Golden Ball.

Messi and Modric are the players who capped Argentina and Croatia the most in history, respectively. Messi is also the all-time leading scorer in Argentina's history, and has just raised his World Cup tally to 10, equaling the record of an Argentine player at the tournament, Gabriel Batistuta.