A goal Lionel Messi against Australia just not through Argentina the Quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cupbut it marked the end of La Pulga’s knockout stage ‘curse’.
Messi became the starter when Argentina faced Australia in Round of 16, Sunday (12/04/2022) at morning WIB at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan.
Messi had the Argentine fans cheering when he opened the scoring in the 35th minute before being doubled by Julian Alvarez in the 57th minute.
Australia had made Messi et al. nervous after cutting the score in the 77th minute, before Argentina finally defended their victory as the fight ended.
Argentina advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup to face the Netherlands on 9 December. Meanwhile, for Messi, the goal against Matt Ryan meant a lot.
Because this is the first time Messi has managed to score in the knockout stage of the World Cup! An anomaly when a player as great as Messi, who has appeared at the event five times, has never done so.
Of the previous eight goals, Messi has always scored in the group stage. Even when Argentina advanced to the final in 2014, Messi made absolutely no progress from the round of 16. Although he scored four goals in the group stage
Messi has scored nine goals and six assists in 23 World Cup matches. His goals total surpassed Diego Maradona and three goals away from Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina’s top scorer in this event.
With the possibility of going through three games, can Messi pass him?
“This is the World Cup for all of you. The opponents are difficult, but the important thing is that you can win,” said Messi ap.
Goal Lionel Messi from world Cup
2006: 1 goal/1 assist
2010: 0 goals/1 assists
2014: 4 goals/1 assist
2018: 1 goal/2 assists
2022: 3 goals/1 assist*
*: I’m still walking
(mrp/runs)