End to the ‘curse’: Lionel Messi scored in the 35th minute of the round of 16 duel Argentina vs. Australia, this Saturday in Doha, thus achieving his first goal in a direct elimination round in the World Cup.
Nicolás Otamendi, from the front, was the author of the assistance so that Messi, in the area, he will find the gap between three rivals to put a cross shot adjusted to the stickwhich served to open the scoring on the first great occasion of a game until then without great emotion.
It was him Messi’s ninth goal in the total of five World Cups which has been disputed, but the previous eight occurred in group stage matchesbefore the tournament entered the round of 16 crosses.
Messi’s first goal in a World Cup was in his debut match, in Germany-2006, when he sealed the 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro in the 88th minute, on the second date of his group.
After fail to score in South Africa-2010Messi stood out with four goals in Brazil-2014an edition in which Argentina was runner-up.
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Lionel Messi appeared! The 10 of the Albiceleste marked his ninth goal in a #FIFAWorldCup in his 1,000th game as a professional to open figures in a super tight match.#WorldWithYou pic.twitter.com/nlYmYmrOfq
– Tigo Sports (@TigoSportsPY) December 3, 2022
The four goals of the Argentine star were in the group round, where his team signed a full of triumphs: Messi scored a goal in the victories over Bosnia-Herzegovina (2-1) and Iran (1-0), and a brace then in the 3-2 over Nigeria.
In Russia-2018 his only goal was in the 2-1 win over Nigeria, with which his team avoided elimination in the first phase of the tournament.
In Qatar-2022, Messi started well, scoring a penalty after 11 minutes in the match against Saudi Arabia, but the ‘Green Hawks’ came back later and won 2-1.
He scored another goal to lead to a 2-0 win over Mexico and missed a penalty in the 2-0 win against Poland.
✔️ Goal in the final phase of #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/RMiMVk2Fga
— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_es) December 3, 2022
The round of 16 match against Australia is Argentina’s first in the knockout rounds in Qatar and thus achieves, at 35 years of age, his first goal in a World Cup ‘kill-kill’ match.
Before the party of this Saturday, Messi had played eight matches between round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final in World Cups.
