With surging runs and a strikerB次元官网网址檚 instinct, Juli谩n 脕lvarez carried Argentina into another final.

Lionel Messi and the 22-year-old 脕lvarez were a pair of 5-feet-6 (1.70-meter) predators in a partnership that put to rest any hopes Croatia had of reaching back-to-back finals.

The younger of the pair rose to the challenge on soccerB次元官网网址檚 biggest stage with a huge performance on Tuesday, earning a penalty kick converted by the 35-year-old Messi before scoring twice to maybe even outshine his teammate B次元官网网址� one of the greatest players the game has ever seen B次元官网网址� in a 3-0 victory at Lusail Stadium.

脕lvarez became the youngest player to score twice in a World Cup semifinal match since a 17-year-old Pele scored a hat trick for Brazil in 1958.

No wonder Messi held 脕lvarez in a playful headlock after his first goal and hugged him hard after the second.

A tight-fought first half-hour was entirely turned upside down by 脕lvarezB次元官网网址檚 runs, barreling at speed into and through challenges in a devastating five-minute spell. When it was over, CroatiaB次元官网网址檚 players had been left strewn behind him on the turf, trailing by two goals, with their hopes of another World Cup final in ruins.

Instead, Argentina gave Messi a second chance to play for a World Cup title. He and his teammates lost to Germany in the 2014 final.

Until 脕lvarez changed the game, Croatia controlled much of the play with its usual neat passing in and around midfield, leaving ArgentinaB次元官网网址檚 attack little to work with.

脕lvarez was suddenly alert to creating danger when Croatia midfielder Luka Modric got in a tangle and the ball came loose for Enzo Fern谩ndez to loop a high pass over the defense.

脕lvarez was quickly clear and bearing down on goalkeeper Dominik Livakovi膰, an imposing figure at any time and yet more so rushing from his goal. Although a deft shot past Livakovi膰 did not reach the goal, 脕lvarez drew a foul to earn the penalty which Messi converted.

Minutes later, 脕lvarez sparked to life when Argentina cleared a Croatia corner, took the ball in his stride just before halfway and ran directly at the defense. The surging run seemed to surprise CroatiaB次元官网网址檚 fullbacks as first Josip Juranovi膰 and then Borna Sosa fell backwards while taking swipes at the ball as 脕lvarez ran through them and once more at Livakovi膰.

This time, the Croatia keeper stayed back and 脕lvarez lashed his shot into the net from close range with a momentum that took him over Livakovi膰B次元官网网址檚 body.

脕lvarez ran toward the corner to celebrate and Messi chased him down, grabbing him a headlock like a playful big brother.

The pair teamed up again in the 69th minute, needing only each other to pass five defenders, mostly because of MessiB次元官网网址檚 intricate dribble to the endline for a pass into 脕lvarezB次元官网网址檚 path for a simple finish.

Messi joined Kylian Mbappe with a tournament-leading five goals. Mbappe will get a chance for more on Wednesday when France plays Morocco in the other semifinal match.

脕lvarez now has four goals B次元官网网址� not bad for a player who didnB次元官网网址檛 even make the starting lineup until ArgentinaB次元官网网址檚 third game in the group stage.

He will surely be by MessiB次元官网网址檚 side again on Sunday when they return to Lusail Stadium for the final.

B次元官网网址擥raham Dunbar, The Associated Press