Lionel Messi wasted no time in opening his account for the 2022 World Cup.
The 35-year-old took just 10 minutes to get his name on the scoresheet as he netted from the penalty spot.
Following one of several VAR interventions in the first-half, Argentina were awarded a penalty for a foul on Leandro Paredes in the box.
Messi then calmly slotted the ball home to score the only goal of the first-half against Saudi Arabia.
LIONEL MESSI HAS ARRIVED! 🇦🇷🙌
Argentina’s number 10 gets his first goal of World Cup 2022 from the penalty spot inside 10 minutes!!#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/eUxnno9m7v
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 22, 2022
The goal makes him just the fourth player and first Argentine to score at four separate World Cups.
He joins the list of Pelé, Uwe Seeler, Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo to have done so.
4 – Lionel Messi is the fifth player to score at four different World Cup tournaments (2006, 2014, 2018, 2022) after Pelé, Uwe Seeler, Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo. Legend. pic.twitter.com/EwEe0VOGEZ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 22, 2022
The two legends are almost certainly playing their final World Cups and will be desperate to outdo the other.
Ronaldo’s World Cup campaign starts with Portugal facing Ghana on Thursday.
Messi has equalled Ronaldo’s World Cup goal record 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/iWksVkExzB
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 22, 2022
There is such excitement around Argentina and Messi at the World Cup this year as one of the world’s greatest players has been in mercurial form this season.
He has been back to his very best in Paris this season firing PSG to the top of Ligue 1 and into the Champions League Round of 16.
📊 The legend Lionel Messi this season:
🏟️ 22 matches
⚽️ 18 goals
🎯 14 assistsInvolved in 32 goals in 22 games 🐐
On the way to an 8th Ballon d’Or perhaps? 🌕🔥 pic.twitter.com/1JpBJsD9uy
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 22, 2022
Argentina have had plenty of chances to kill the game in the first-half with three goals disallowed for offside.
Saudi Arabia have looked to get forward too which has allowed Aregtina chances but also put some slight pressure on the Albiceleste’s back line.
Read more here:
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