Messi will forever remember his 800th goal. In the festive game of the third world cup, the number 10 scored a great free-kick to reach the historic mark, and Argentina beat Panama by 2-0.
Thiago Almada scored the other winning goal, with a free-kick rebounding off Messi’s crossbar. The goals only came out in the final stretch of the match, but the friendly was a setback for Argentina, who lost many goals in front of a crowd at the Monumental de Núñez, in Buenos Aires.
After the match, Messi spoke into the microphone to the public and stated that he had always dreamed of this moment. He received an ovation at the Monumental and lifted the World Cup trophy again.
I want to thank all of you for all your love during the Cup and since before the title. I said for a long time that I was going to do everything possible for this, I always dreamed of this moment, to be able to celebrate with you. We won the Copa America, the final against Italy and finally the World Cup.” Lionel Messi
Messi holds back the tears
Messi got emotional during the anthem before the friendly. Accompanied by his children, the number 10 filled his eyes with tears while the crowd sang the song “Muchacos”, which rocked the title campaign at the World Cup in Qatar. Goalkeeper Dibu Martínez, on the other hand, did not hold back his tears.
Party night
The Argentine party for the world title brought together more than 80,000 people at the Monumental de Núñez. The friendly schedule was all festive, with concerts before and during the game and even showing a documentary about the title in Qatar. Before the match, the crowd held up a Messi banner, raising the third championship cup.
How was the game
Argentina completely dominated the first half, but failed in the finals. Scaloni’s team had the ball more, cornered Panama in their own area and created clear goalscoring chances, especially with Messi and Enzo Fernández. An attack against defense that ended goalless.
The Argentine blitz increased even more in the second half, with Panama not going beyond the midfield, and resulted in two goals. Messi scared goalkeeper Guerra twice with set pieces. Shortly afterwards, Argentina asked for a penalty on Dybala, and the number 10 wasted it on the spare. Argentina finally made it 1 to 0 with Almada, after another free kick on the crossbar by Messi. On the third attempt, however, there was no mistake: Messi took a free kick perfectly and scored a goal, already in the final stretch.
Goals and key shots
On the grass! Messi almost opened the scoring for Argentina in the 17th minute of the first half. He suffered a hard foul, went for the kick and hit the post.
Messi lines up. The number 10 made a beautiful move in the 42nd minute, but the kick went over the top. He received it on the right end, left a marker behind, took another one and hit Panama’s crossbar.
Uhhh… Enzo Fernández narrowly missed scoring a minute later. He received a free kick from the entrance to the area, adjusted it to his right leg and hit it in the corner, but goalkeeper Guerra brushed it aside for a corner kick.
Almost Olympic. Argentina almost took the scoreboard in another beautiful move by Messi. At 4 minutes of the second half, he took a corner with great effect on the second stick, but goalkeeper Guerra avoided the Olympic goal.
Argentina goal. Messi took another free-kick on the crossbar in the 32nd minute of the final stage. On the rebound, Almada pushed the net to score his first goal for the national team.
800 times Messi. In the 44th minute of the second half, Messi drove the crowd crazy with a free-kick. After two on the beam, he sent the angle, with no chance for Guerra.
Datasheet
Argentina 2 x 0 Panama
Local: Monumental de Núñez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Date and time: 03/23/23, at 8:30 pm (Brasília time)
Referee: Christian Ferreyra
Assistants: Richard Trinidad and Carlos Barreiro
Yellow cards: Galván, Fariña (Panama)
Goals: Almada, at 32′, and Messi, at 44′ of the second half.
ARGENTINA: Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi (Lisandro Martinez), Tagliafico (Acuña); Enzo Fernandez (Paredes), De Paul, Mac Allister (Almada); Messi, Di Maria, Julian Alvarez (Lautaro Martinez). Technician: Lionel Scaloni.
PANAMA: Jose Guerra; Ivan Anderson, Peralta, Fariña, Galvan; Ramos, Gudiño, José Murillo, Quintero; Cordoba, Stephens. Technician:Thomas Christiansen.
