How Messi’s Goal Changed Argentina’s Fate in World Cup 2022
Listen Podcast
Argentina beat Mexico 2-0 to keep their World Cup hopes alive, thanks to Lionel Messi‘s amazing strike.
Argentina’s sagging World Cup prospects were boosted by Lionel Messi’s spectacular long-range strike in a critical 2-0 win over Mexico at the Lusail Stadium. Argentina entered the game knowing that defeat would mean elimination following their shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia, and they labored once more until Messi’s 65th-minute intervention.
In what is anticipated to be his final World Cup, the 35-year-old picked up Angel Di Maria’s pass outside the box and arrowed a crisp shot into the bottom corner to break the deadlock in a scruffy and ill-tempered match.
How Argentina emerged victorious
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni attempted to spice things up after the Saudi Arabia setback, making five changes to his lineup, including Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez and Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister.
Argentina, flat and fragmented, picked up where they left off in Tuesday’s encounter, with Messi unable to affect proceedings and Lautaro Martinez cutting an isolated figure ahead of him.
1 – Lionel Messi is now both the youngest (18y 357d vs Serbia in 2006) and the oldest (35y 155d vs Mexico today) player to both score and assist in a single World Cup game since the start of the 1966 tournament. Longevity. pic.twitter.com/e6Ak6fmI8l
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 26, 2022
Mexico looked more dangerous in the opening period, but, like Argentina, they struggled to create any true moments of quality, with an Alexis Vega free-kick comfortably saved by Emi Martinez the only effort on goal before the break. Despite the electric atmosphere inside the stadium, there was more of the same after the break, with a wayward Messi free kick seemingly summarizing his evening as he failed to ignite.
But everything changed when he found himself in a pocket of space about 25 yards from goal, taking a touch to handle Di Maria’s ball before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the far corner. Argentina’s players and fans erupted in excitement after Messi’s goal, and there was even more relief when replacement Fernandez sprinted onto Messi’s pass following a corner and fired a magnificent effort from the left side of the box.
Messi still a game-changer
When the hour comes, so does the man. Lionel Messi had experienced a terribly difficult evening at the Lusail Stadium, his struggles echoing those of Argentina as a whole, but his stunning opening goal reminded everyone that he can still turn a game in an instant.
For the previous hour, Messi had remained on the outskirts of a low-quality match, his only attempt on goal an inaccurate free kick early in the second half. But when his chance arrived, he took it in a pocket of space just outside the box.
The goal, which he steered into the bottom corner, was his 93rd for his country and eighth at the World Cup, tying him with Diego Maradona. It could also be one of his most meaningful. Argentina had been terrible up until that point, but their belief gradually returned, and when the second goal arrived, it was no surprise to see Messi involved, the 35-year-old supplying Enzo Fernandez, whose spectacular finish sealed the game.
Argentina’s effort is far from over. The last group game versus Poland will be difficult. They will need to significantly improve on this performance if they are to successfully navigate it and advance to the tournament’s later stages.
Messi level with Maradona: Opta stats
- Lionel Messi has scored in six consecutive Argentina outings, his joint-longest scoring streak in international football (also 6 between November 2011 – September 2012).
- Lionel Messi now has the same number of World Cup goals as Diego Maradona (8), with only Gabriel Batistuta (10) scoring more for Argentina altogether.
- Only Rivellino (5) has scored more World Cup goals from outside the area than Messi since 1966. (4).
- Andres Guardado became the sixth player in history to appear in five World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022), and the third Mexican to do so, behind Rafael Márquez and Antonio Carbajal.
- Since a 1-0 setback in the 2004 Copa America, Argentina has gone unbeaten in their past 11 games with Mexico in all competitions (W8 D3).
If you feel interested
You can also read Entertainment, Numerology, Tech, and Health-related articles here: Final Match for Argentina, Netflix December 2022 Schedule, Unknown Facts about FIFA World Cup 2022, Qatar vs. Ecuador, Most Unbreakable Record in Football History, November 18 Zodiac, World Cup 2022 Golden Boot Winner Predictions, November 15 Zodiac, Bayonetta 3, Hamraaz App, The Flash Season 9, Scariest Video Games Ever, November 6 Zodiac, New Shows on Amazon Prime in November 2022, Au Reborn Codes, Best DC Series on HBO Max, Richest Rapper in the World 2022, Disney Plus November 2022 Schedule, Hannah Kepple net worth, Red Bali Kratom, Holding season 2, Halloween 2022, iOS 16.1 Features, Netflix November 2022 Schedule, Virat Kohli Net Worth,
You can read more
Summer Podcasts on Movistar, Best Cycling Simulator Games, MyShopify, Ben Affleck Net Worth, Filmymeet, 5Movies, September 8 Zodiac, Kengan Ashura Season 3, iPhone 14 Plus Release Date, High School DxD Season 5, How Gautam Adani Emerged World’s Third Richest Man, Jeezy Net Worth, Historical Series on HBO Max, F2Movies, Best Travel Movies of All Time, Vikings Season 7, How to Watch Artemis I Launch Attempt, Best Kitchen Gadgets for Home Cooks, September 2 Zodiac, Hubble’s Law and Age of Universe, New Movies on Disney Plus September 2022, Amazon Prime Release Date September 2022, Steps for Casual Look, Daredevil Season 4, Tinyzone, Elon Musk Mother sleeps in Garage, Lady Gaga All movies, Virgo.
Apart from the above articles
Accessibility Apps for Android, Best Jobs in the Metaverse, QueenslandMax, Shower Standing Handle, August 11 Zodiac, How to pass a drug test, How to Roll a Joint, iFun, Emerald Chat, How to Play Mancala, August 8 Zodiac, OnePlus 10T Review, Jilo Virals, August 4 Zodiac, Findsnap, Tomb Raider Anime, Netflix August 2022 Schedule, Animixplay, Upcoming Marvel Movies 2022, July 31 Zodiac, Best Lily Collins Movies, Notepadqq, Flaxseeds with Milk Benefits, Imginn, Snaptik, Picuki, Alexis Clark Net Worth, Black Panther 2,
Marvel Echo Release Date, Frozen Fruit Recipes, Black Tourmaline, Webtoon XYZ, Fastest VPN for Android, IFVOD, XXXX Dry Review, Highest Grossing Indian Movies of all Time, Highest Grossing Movies of All Time, Rush Limbaugh net worth. Gotham Season 7, Parag Agrawal Net Worth, Tara Reid Net Worth, Blonde Trailer, Fastest VPN for PC, Highest Paid CEO in India 2022, Highest paid athletes 2022, My5 TV Activate, Kissmanga, Highest Paid CEO 2022, Grey’s Anatomy Season 19, Alexa.com Alternatives, The Resident Season 6, Kraven The Hunter, One Punch Man season 3, The Resident Season 5, Yellowstone season 5, Ozark season 4 part 2, How to Remove Bookmarks on Mac,
Outer Banks Season 4, How to watch NFL games for free, DesireMovies, 6streams, 4Anime, Moviesflix, 123MKV, MasterAnime, Buffstreams, GoMovies, VIPLeague, How to Play Music in Discord, Vampires Diaries Season 9, Homeland Season 9, Brent Rivera Net Worth, PDFDrive, SmallPDF, Knightfall Season 3, Crackstream, Kung Fu Panda 4, 1616 Angel Number, 333 Angel Number, 666 Angel Number, 777 Angel Number, 444 angel number, Bruno Mars net worth, KissAnime, Jim Carrey net worth, Bollyshare, Afdah, Prabhas Wife Name, Project Free TV, Kissasian, Kickassanime, Moviezwap, Jio Rockers, Dramacool, M4uHD, Hip Dips, M4ufree, Fiverr English Test Answers, Fiverr SEO Skill Test, NBAstreamsXYZ, Highest Paid CEO, The 100 season 8, and F95Zone.
Thanks for reading. Stay tuned!
To Read Our Exclusive Content, Sign up Now.
$5/Monthly, $50/Yearly