Messi faces Saudi ArabiaScores opening goalMakes more history for Argentina
WHAT HAPPENED? The Argentina captain opened the scoring for his team in their first game of the Qatar tournament against Saudi Arabia. Messi scored from the penalty spot after Tottenham’s Cristian Romero was brought down in the penalty area and a spot-kick was awarded after a VAR check.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Messi’s goal means he has become the first player to score in four World Cups with Argentina (in 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022). The Paris Saint-Germain star has overtaken Argentine legends Diego Maradona (1982, 1986 and 1994) and Gabriel Batistuta (1994, 1998 and 2002), who only managed to score in three tournaments.
DID YOU KNOW? Argentina have become the first team in World Cup history to have four players over the age of 34 in their starting lineup, with Messi, Nicolas Otamendi, Angel Di María and Papu Gomez all making Lionel Scaloni’s XI.
IN THREE PHOTOS:
WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI? Argentina’s second group game of World Cup 2022 is on Saturday against Mexico.
The World saw Mike Tyson step back into the Ring (probably one last time) in… Read More
Novak Djokovic said it was his honour to share the epic rivalry with Rafael Nadal.… Read More
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has named former Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos as his most… Read More
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension with the club till… Read More
Mohammedan SC’s head coach Andrey Chernyshov wants the club to give their best in every… Read More
Controversial Nick Kyrgios has predicted tennis will become bland after Rafael Nadal’s retirement. Nadal lost… Read More