Gary Neville and Roy Keane hail Lionel Messi’s stunning display in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Croatia

Pundits have been piling praise on Lionel Messi after an age-defying performance against Croatia in Argentina’s World Cup semi final win.

The 35-year-old opened the scoring with a first half penalty, but achieved more plaudits after the break when he rolled back the years with a sensational turn of pace to beat and then dazzle Josko Gvardiol, before crossing into the box for Julian Alvarez to score Argentina’s third.

Gary Neville was particularly enthralled by the goal and the way Messi’s side are set up to get the best out of him, as he explained on ITV: ‘That third goal was a moment of genius. [The World Cup is] a mission, and one that Messi is delivering on his own at the moment.

Lionel Messi led Argentina into the World Cup semi final after a sensational performance

Gary Neville called the forward a ‘genius’ after an excellent run to set up his side’s third goal

‘He’s got ten fighters who are scrapping around him. They’ve got the best fans in the tournament as well, and they’ve grown and grown throughout the tournament.’

It was a rare moment of agreement between Neville and his former Manchester United teammate Roy Keane, who said: ‘It’s a pleasure to watch him, it really is. The level he’s at at his age, and he’s doing it against really good players.’

Gvardiol had been considered one of the best defenders at the tournament, but was still comfortably beaten by the diminutive Argentinian who is 15 years his senior.

Messi became Argentina’s top scorer at World Cups in the game, overtaking Gabriel Batistuta

 Roy Keane added that it was a ‘pleasure to watch’ the diminutive Argentinian at work

Keane went on to take a dig at Neville and Ian Wright before outlining his hopes for the rest of the tournament, as he added: ‘Listen I was slightly better than the lads sat here, but what we’re seeing here live, he’s doing it against really good players and he’s been doing it for years.

‘I really hope he goes on to win the world cup, it would be the icing on the cake. They were on their knees against Holland but they found a way to win.’

Argentina are now through to their second final in three World Cups, and will face off against either champions France or outsiders Morocco on Sunday.