‘One day I will tell my kids that I played against GOAT’ – Gvardiol breaks silence on Messi’s impressive World Cup assist

JOSKO GVARDIOL has admitted he’s happy to play against Lionel Messi… even though he was on the losing side.

The top-flight defender was caught off guard by Argentina as Croatia suffered a 3-0 defeat in Tuesday’s World Cup semi-finals.

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Messi, 35, put in a master class – most memorable for his sensational assist for his side’s third-place finish – by twisting and turning Gvardiol before putting the ball to Julian Alvarez to score.

The magic moment drew a lot of attention but Messi’s 20-year-old victim took it in stride – even calling his tormentor a GOAT.

Ahead of Saturday’s third-place match, Gvardiol said: “I’m glad I played him even though we lost.

“It’s a great experience and one day I’ll tell my kids that I played against the best player in history. I think we’ll beat him next time.”

Despite his embarrassment at Messi, Gvardiol’s stock remains sky-high after a brilliant tournament.

He was already closely linked with Chelsea – who are reportedly ahead of Real Madrid in the race for his signing.

Gvardiol isn’t the only Croatian star who has gushed about Messi.

His team-mate, former Leicester striker Andrej Kramaric added: “Messi is the greatest player in history.”

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After previously unreleased footage of Messi’s brilliant assist surfaced online this week, it was claimed he created the entire sequence before even receiving the ball.

According to reporter Juan ArangoMessi’s pal and former teammate Sergio Aguero revealed what his pal wanted on Argentine TV.

Arango tweeted: “Kun Aguero spoke on Arg TV about how Messi tells his teammates to move so he can receive the ball.

“The short pass to the feet is the secret.”

Twenty-four hours after Croatia take on Morocco to finish on the World Cup podium for the second consecutive year, Messi and his Argentina side meet France in Sunday’s final.

The 35-year-old is determined to bring the trophy back to his home country and could finally put the GOAT debate out of the way for good.

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