Argentina captain Lionel Messi turned the second participant ever to achieve 800 objectives with a purpose in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Panama on Thursday (March 23). Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who holds the all-time report for profession objectives (830), is the one different participant that has reached 800 objectives.
The 83,000 screaming followers weren’t disenchanted in Lionel Messi and his Argentina staff’s first worldwide match since lifting the FIFA World Cup 2022 title final December. Messi’s Argentina beat Panama 2-0 with two late objectives Thursday night time on the Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires, within the first of two matches for the staff to rejoice its triumph in Qatar.
WATCH Lionel Messi Score Against Panama HERE…
LIONEL MESSI’S FREE KICK GOAL FOR ARGENTINA! Via @TV_Publica. ___pic.twitter.com/zZb836PEZF
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) March 24, 2023
Thiago Almada opened the scoring within the 78th minute, pushing the ball into an empty web after a free kick taken by Messi hit the publish. Eleven minutes later, the Argentine nice netted the second with one other free kick to the delight of the capability crowd.
“I always dreamed of this moment, celebrating with you,” an emotional Messi mentioned after the match, standing together with his household on the pitch. He lifted the World Cup trophy as soon as extra in entrance of his followers and took a gradual victory lap together with his teammates, who carried miniatures of the identical trophy, as fireworks erupted over the stadium.
It was Messi’s 800th purpose in his skilled profession. If he scores one other in Argentina’s subsequent pleasant towards Curacao on Tuesday, he’ll hit the mark of 100 objectives for the nationwide staff. Argentina’s full squad in Qatar attended the match. Messi and others introduced their households to the stadium. Coach Lionel Scaloni was some of the emotional; he was tearful earlier than and after the match.
The match culminates per week through which the 35-year-old Messi was extensively celebrated as a hero after serving to Argentina win its third World Cup title, a outstanding change from years when a few of the similar followers accused him of apathy with the nationwide staff.
(with PTI inputs)
