FANS are convinced that Lionel Messi planned his entire move before even getting the ball in the build-up to his amazing assist against Croatia.
The 35-year-old would go on to bamboozle Josko Gvardiol before laying the ball on a plate for Julian Alvarez to score.
After previously unseen footage emerged, it’s been claimed that Messi knew what would unfold long before embarrassing Gvardiol.
As per reporter Juan Arango, Messi’s pal and former team-mate Sergio Aguero revealed on Argentine telly just what his mate wanted.
Arango tweeted: “Kun Aguero talked on Arg TV how Messi directs his team-mates to move around so he can receive the ball.
“Short pass to his feet is the secret.”
He accompanied his tweet with a video clip of the sequence taken from the crowd.
In the clip, Messi can be seen pointing Alvarez into position.
The Manchester City star receives the ball moments later, laying it off for his esteemed team-mate to embark on his amazing run.
Messi then dribbles down the flank before his now-infamous turn on Gvardiol, before eventually passing it back to Alvarez for a tap in.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST OFFERS FOR EXISTING CUSTOMERS FOR DECEMBER 2022
One fan wrote about the telepathy between the strike partners, tweeting: “Without any single word.”
And another responded: “Messi points Julian to look for Gvardiol to free himself from the mark. The game is great.”
A third added: “He had the whole play in his head before taking out the side. Bottle.”
While a further user added: “The game within the game. Good stuff.”
Aguero, 34, may have been in the squad, had he not been forced to retire last year.
He has joined his pals in Qatar, however, hoping to cheer them on to glory.
While his son Benjamin, 13, is also there – and was even gifted his godfather Messi’s match shorts.
Injured midfielder Giovani Lo Celso has also joined Argentina in Qatar, like Aguero, hoping to witness them win the tournament when they take on France in Sunday’s final.
