Lionel Messi wrote another chapter of his iconic career at the pantheon of the beautiful game during the second-half 2022 World Cup clash against the Netherlands which is still hotly contested at the time of writing.
Turning provider for Nahuel Molina’s match-opening goal with one of the most sublime passes seen at the World Cup, the 35-year-old legendary forward then got his name on the scoresheet from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute to give Argentina a temporarily 2-0 lead before Wout Weghorst headed home while taking advantage of a height miss-match against Lisandro Martínez.
10 – Lionel Messi iguala a Gabriel Batistuta como máximo goleador histórico de #ARG en Mundiales (10). Fenómeno. pic.twitter.com/5DHSI4guB5
— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) December 9, 2022
That goal could no doubt prove decisive but it also equaled former Argentina icon Gabriel Batistuta’s record 10 World Cup goals for the South American giants.
In doing so, Messi also became just the fourteenth player in World Cup history to bag a double-digit goal return during the sport’s biggest stage while also taking his 2022 tournament account to four goals in Qatar as he continues to push his country to hopefully a long-eluded World Cup, putting what would be the final accent point on what would unquestionably be viewed as arguably the greatest career in football history.
With a possible date with Croatia awaiting Lionel Scaloni’s La Albiceleste should they hold on to their narrow lead, nothing would be able to be taken for granted after the finalist from four years ago dispatched tournament favorites Brazil in a 4-2 penalty shootout win. But should Argentina prevail, millions of fans will still sit on the edge of their seat to see if Messi can finally achieve what has long evaded him.
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