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Lionel Messi, the World Cup-winning star of Argentina, was the centre of attention in Buenos Aires on Thursday as they defeated Panama 2-0 in a friendly match that celebrated their World Cup victory last December.
Even though the world champions controlled the game, they didn’t score until Thiago Almada scored in the 78th minute after Messi’s free-kick struck the goalpost.
Five minutes later, Lionel Messi took the field and, with a perfect free kick, scored the 800th goal of his professional career. He now has just one goal reaching the national team’s century milestone.
Messi scores his 800th goal with this wonderful free kick. 🐐
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) March 24, 2023
Ronaldo, who currently holds the record for most goals scored in a single season (830), is the only player to have achieved the milestone before Messi.
Since 2016, when he scored a free kick goal against the United States in the Copa América Centenario, Messi has held the record for most goals scored by Argentina.
Following the game, the celebrations got underway, and Messi walked the stage, beaming widely as he accepted honors and prizes.
“I want to thank you for all the love we’ve been receiving . As soon as he was given the microphone, an obviously moved Lionel Messi remarked, “We told you we were going to do everything we could to win this. We spent a long time without winning it, and we don’t know when we will again, so let’s take advantage of this.
Messi has scored 701 goals for his club team, 493 of which have come in league play. Messi will be the first player ever to reach 1,000 goal contributions with two more goals or assists for his club team.
Messi has played in a record 173 games for Argentina at the senior level. In 2022, he won his first FIFA World Cup, which was also the first for Argentina since 1986.
