Two famous Ballon d’Or winning number 10s. Two defeated World Cup finalists. Two captains. One last chance to lift the famous trophy before he reaches the pinnacle of football and retires.
It’s hard to see Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Croatia’s Luka Modric as two sides in Tuesday’s first World Cup semi-final.
With Paris Saint-Germain’s Messi now 35 and Real Madrid’s Modric 37, it looks like this weekend’s final or third-place play-off will be where their World Cup careers end.
So how do the two compare and who will lead their country to the final against France or Morocco on Sunday?
How do they compare at this World Cup?
Both players have been crucial to their country’s runs at this World Cup, and scored in their quarter-final penalty shootout win.
Messi took the first kick as Argentina beat the Netherlands, while Modric scored Croatia’s third kick in a win over tournament favorites Brazil.
Modric is the first player to score three penalties in a World Cup shootout (also netting against Denmark and Russia in 2018).
In 90 or 120 minutes, Messi took the lead. He has scored four goals and provided two assists, while Modric has yet to record a goal or assist – however Messi plays up front, while Modric operates in midfield.
Barcelona legend Messi scored a penalty against Saudi Arabia, scored and assisted a goal against Mexico and saved a penalty against Poland in the group stage.
He scored the opener against Australia in the last 16 and assisted the opening goal against Holland in the quarter-finals, before scoring from the spot in the 73rd minute – and again in the shoot-out.
Speaking to JEE News, Martin Kevin said: “Lionel Messi just keeps producing. It was a really quality penalty. He’s in top form. His confidence and belief is flowing to his teammates.”
After Argentina’s victory over Australia, fellow former England defender Rio Ferdinand said: “Best individual performance by a player at this World Cup. It was almost godlike. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
And former Argentina team-mate Pablo Zabaleta said: “I think Messi knows it’s his last World Cup and you can really see he’s enjoying it.”
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Modric caught the eye of Micah Richards during Croatia’s quarter-final against Brazil.
“We thought it would be his last World Cup,” the former England defender said to JEE News. “Some passes he made, controlling the tempo – he dictated his pace and Brazil didn’t know what to do.”
Modric was substituted before penalties in Croatia’s last 16 shootout win over Japan – but stayed on against Brazil.
“Again, Luka led for 120 minutes and was the leader of the team,” said Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic. “It’s incredible how he plays for his age, and he wasn’t tired.
“When we got behind we were thinking about replacing a midfield player and asked him what’s your situation? He said he’s still fully fit. He showed again that he One of the best players in the world.”
Messi has had more shots (25) and attempts on target (12) than anyone else at the World Cup – with France’s Kylian Mbappe, his Paris Saint-Germain teammate, second on both counts. Mbappe leads him 5-4 in the race for the Golden Boot.
Only four players in the final third have made more successful passes than Modric’s 201. Messi is eighth on the list with 171. Modric has made the fifth most crosses in the tournament with 28 crosses.
Modric has also impressed more on the pitch, with only two players making more tackles (39) or making more interceptions (eight) than Kroot.
In JEE News Player’s less scientific ratings, as chosen by our readers, Messi averages 7.01 over five games, with Modric at 7.46.
How does their international heritage compare?
In the last two World Cup finals, one of them has been defeated.
In 2014, Messi’s Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany and an extra-time goal from Mario Gotze. Four years ago, Modric’s Croatia were beaten 4-2 by France.
Both won the Golden Ball, the tournament’s best player award, in the process. And both have potential milestones to reach heading into Tuesday’s game.
Messi will equal Luther Matthaus’ record for most World Cup appearances (25). He will then break the German’s record in the final or third-place play-off at the weekend.
Messi has scored 10 goals in the World Cup. Only seven players have achieved more – Germany’s Miroslav Klose tops the list with 16. He is just one behind Hungary’s Sander Kocsis and Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann, and two behind Pele.
He already holds the record for most assists in World Cup knockout games, surpassing the old record of four held by Brazilian great Pele in his last game.
Messi has scored and assisted a goal in three different World Cup matches, including two this year. Since the feat was first recorded in 1966, no player has accomplished the feat in four games.
He scored 95 goals in 170 caps – both national records.
Modric has won a record 160 Croatia caps and scored 23 international goals.
Modric will become the oldest outfield player to start six games at a World Cup – beating Brazilian wing-back Nilton Santos, who turned just 37 in 1962.
He has made the most World Cup appearances (17) and most appearances at major tournaments (30) for Croatia – before this semi-final.
Messi has one Copa America to show for his international career, while Modric is yet to win a trophy.
There is also a good synergy between the careers of the players. Messi scored his first goal in Argentina and Modric made his debut for Croatia in the same game – a friendly between the sides in March 2006, which Croatia won 3–2.
What about his overall career?
The semi-final will be Messi’s 1,002nd career appearance for club and country. He scored 790 goals and made 339 assists.
Modric’s career statistics are more difficult to believe, with spells at Dinamo Zagreb, Zarinjeski Mostar and Inter Zapresic in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Both won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, Messi seven times and Modric. Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo and France striker Karim Benzema are the only other players to have won it since 2007.
Modric has won five Champions Leagues to Messi’s four – while both have won league titles in two countries.
