Messi scored his seventh goal in a World Cup in this wayall scored in the group stages of World Cup tournaments, although he is still far from the record of 16 goals in World Cups held by Miroslav Klose with 16 goals.
The Argentine captain made up for the penalty he missed in his debut against Iceland (1-1) in the last World Cup in Russia-2018.
world five
The Argentine star cleared up the doubts about his physical condition raised the day before, when a photograph of his apparently swollen ankle under his sock caused a stir on social networks.
Messi himself was blunt in the press conference prior to the match: “I feel very good physically. I think I arrived at a great moment, both personally and physically. I don’t have any problem,” he said.
“I trained differently because I had a blow, it was a precaution, but nothing unusual,” added the star from Rosario, who played the 90 minutes against the Saudis.
The Argentinian star affirmed that he arrived “very well” at his fifth World Cup, with which he joins a handful of stars who have managed to wear their national shirt in a planetary event.
Messi, at 35, catches up with the German Lothar Matthaüs, the Italian Gianluigi Buffon and the Mexicans Antonio Carbajal and Rafa Márquez, the only players with five World Cups played.
This Tuesday, Messi led the Albiceleste on the pitch of the Lusail stadium, where in addition to the penalty goal, he saw a goal canceled for offside after receiving a through ball (22).
The Albiceleste captain could be seen giving instructions or asking his teammates for a head, in a game that began to go wrong for the Albiceleste in the second half.