Diego Maradona Honoured as Messi Books World Cup Final Spot

Diego Maradona remembered as Messi reaches World Cup final

Lionel Messi marked Argentina’s World Cup semi-final win by paying tribute to Diego Maradona. The 3-0 victory over France on 14 December 2022 sent Argentina to the final.

What happened in the semi-final?

Argentina dominated France from the first whistle. Julián Álvarez opened the scoring inside 10 minutes. Messi doubled the lead before half-time. The second half saw Ángel Di María add a third.

Why it matters for Diego Maradona

Messi wore a captain’s armband bearing Maradona’s name. He pointed to the sky after each goal. The gesture drew global attention to Maradona’s legacy. Argentina’s run echoes the 1986 side Maradona captained.

What comes next for Argentina

Argentina face either France or Morocco in the final. The match takes place on 18 December 2022 in Qatar. A win would complete a journey begun under Maradona’s shadow. Messi called it the toughest path of his career.