India, June 12 -- Four years ago, on a warm Qatari evening, Lionel Messi, chasing his elusive World Cup dream, decided it was time for one of his magic tricks. He didn't specifically choose Jasko Gvardiol as his mark. The Croatian centre-back, the star defender of the tournament, wearing a protective face mask that was more Bane than Batman, just happened to be there.

So, when the time was right, Messi, 35, exploded past the 20-year-old Gvardiol down the right wing, waited to be caught, pirouetted at the edge of the box like a ballerina in an allegro, dropped one shoulder to send his pursuer scampering the other way, darted down the touchline, and knocked the ball to striker Julian Alvaraz for a tap-in goal that took Argentina to the Wor...