Argentina star Lionel Messi on Saturday scored in his 1000th career game against Australia in the World Cup round of 16 game at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Saturday’s goal was Messi’s ninth World Cup, leaving him just one goal behind Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina’s highest World Cup goal scorer.
It was also his first goal in the World Cup knock-out stage, putting him ahead of Argentina’s football legend, Diego Maradona, who netted 8 World Cup goals in his lifetime.
Giving Argentina the lead some minutes to the end of first half, Messi’s goal came from a free kick on the right corner.
The prolific Argentine talisman played a one-two close to the box’s edge before brilliantly placing the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
Messi, 35, has now scored 789 career goals. The seven-time ballon d’or winner had said this would be his last World Cup.
