Messi, who won the Golden Ball for the best player in the world seven times, scored the winning goal from a direct free kick against Ecuador on Thursday at the start of the qualifiers in Buenos Aires, and was substituted three minutes before the final whistle.
Messi, who led the “Albiceleste” to its third world title at the World Cup in Qatar last year, later admitted that he was “a little tired,” while Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said that Messi himself asked to leave.
Messi, 36 years old, played a series of 12 matches in the last 49 days, including 11 with his new American club, Inter Miami, and a match with his country’s national team.
© 2023 AFP
2023-09-12 20:21:04
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