Two iconic number 10s, two beaten World Cup finalists, two captains, one last chance to finally reach the peak of football and lift the famous trophy before they retire.
It is hard to look past Argentina's Lionel Messi and Croatia's Luka Modric as the two difference makers in tomorrow's FIFA World Cup semi final.
With PSG's Lionel Messi now 35 and Real Madrid's Luka Modric 37, it seems highly likely the final or third place play-off this weekend will be where their World Cup careers end.
Both players have been crucial to their country's runs at this World Cup, and scored in their quarter-final penalty shootout wins.
Messi took the first kick as Argentina beat the Netherlands, while Modric scored Croatia's third kick in their win over tournament favourites Brazil.
Modric is the first player to score three penalties in shootouts at the World Cup, also netting against Denmark and Russia in 2018.
In 90 or 120 minutes, Messi has the edge, he has scored four goals and assisted two, while Modric has yet to record a goal or an assist however Messi plays up front, while Modric operates in midfield.
In 2014, Messi's Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany and Mario Gotze's extra-time goal, while four years ago, Modric's Croatia were beaten 4-2 by France.
Both won the Golden Ball, the award for the tournament's best player, in the process and both have potential milestones to reach in tomorrow's game.
This will be the 27th time they have faced each other, with 22 of those coming in El Clasico meetings between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Modric has the edge with 12 wins to Messi's nine.
Sadly, both players will retire in the coming years, so we should enjoy them while they are still going.
Source: BBC
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