'One day I'll tell my kids I faced the best player in history': Josko Gvardiol breaks silence after falling victim to Lionel Messi's stunning assist in Croatia's World Cup exit... as he claims the PSG star 'plays differently' for Argentina
- Argentina knocked out Croatia thanks to a masterclass from Lionel Messi
- Josko Gvardiol was taught a football lesson with Messi's stunning assist
- The defender has spoken out for the first time since Messi turned him inside out
- Gvardiol says he will be able to tell his kids he played against the world's best
- Click here for all the latest news and updates in Sportsmail's live World Cup blog
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
Josko Gvardiol takes pride from facing Lionel Messi despite being on the wrong end of a masterclass by the Argentine superstar in Croatia's World Cup semi-final defeat.
The Croatian - ranked as one of the best young defenders in the world - was taught a football lesson by Messi who produced arguably the assist of the tournament in a 3-0 victory for Argentina.
Messi stopped the ball in his feet and drove up the right flank, turning his marker Gvardiol inside and out, before getting to the byline and setting up Julian Alvarez for the final goal of the game.
![Lionel Messi produced one of the all-time great World Cup assists in Argentina's victory](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/16/16/65660609-0-image-a-65_1671206665669.jpg)
Lionel Messi produced one of the all-time great World Cup assists in Argentina's victory
![Messi drove past Josko Gvardiol three times before laying the ball off for Julian Alvarez](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/16/16/65660627-0-image-a-66_1671206697695.jpg)
Messi drove past Josko Gvardiol three times before laying the ball off for Julian Alvarez
As Croatia gear up for their third-place play-off against Croatia, the 20-year-old RB Leipzig defender - a target for Chelsea - has spoken out on his experience of coming up against Messi.
He said during Croatia's press conference: 'It was a nice experience even though I played against him in the club last season.
'He is a completely different type of player in the club and in the national team.
![Gvardiol said he would be able to tell his kids in the future that he played against Messi](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/16/16/65660589-0-image-m-68_1671206735041.jpg)
Gvardiol said he would be able to tell his kids in the future that he played against Messi
'I am glad that I played against 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 guess we will beat him next time.'
Gvardiol’s Croatia teammate Andrej Kramaric added: ‘Messi is the greatest player in history.’
Kramaric was also doubtful over whether team-mate Luka Modric will retire from international football.
![Messi taught the highly rayed defender a football lesson in Argentina's 3-0 win against Croatia](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/16/16/65660591-0-image-a-69_1671206770118.jpg)
Messi taught the highly rayed defender a football lesson in Argentina's 3-0 win against Croatia
He said: 'We all know how many nice words were written about Luka and what he did not only for Croatia but the whole world. Knowing him, I'm not sure that this is his last.
While Croatia gear up for Morocco, Messi and Argentina get ready to play France in the World Cup final on Sunday.
Messi has admitted this will be his final World Cup game, meaning that it will be his last shot at adding the World Cup to his illustrious list of honours in the game.
Most watched Sport videos
- Giants fans burn quarterback Daniel Jones' jersey after loss
- Montenegro fans create distraction from football with fireworks
- Las Vegas Raiders fan body slams a woman during brawl
- Awkward moment footy great can't pronounce NRL player's name
- Johnny Gaudreau's wife Meredith announces she is pregnant
- Moment Miami Dolphin's Tyreek Hill is arrested by police
- Jason Kelce bares all with ex-Eagles teammate in revealing beer ad
- Shocking bodycam of Tyreek Hill arrest released by Miami-Dade PD
- Woman exposes NRL boyfriend for leaving her for another
- Ireland fans mock Queen's death aiming chants at England fans
- John Hunt makes a poignant return to the commentary box at Brighton
- Tyreek Hill speeds by police before cops aggressively pull him over