Lionel Messi has scored his first World Cup knockout goal in stunning fashion, coming in his 1000th career game.
The legendary Argentine finished off a beautiful passage of play with a trademark curling finish into the far corner of the net to put his side up against Australia.
In what is almost certainly the 35-year-old’s final World Cup, Messi has finally scored his first knockout goal as he looks to guide his team to another final.
Winning a free kick wide of the Australia box, Argentina regained possession after a clearance and as Messi charged into the area and a slick passing move saw Brighton’s Alexis Mac Alliser pick out Nicolas Otamendi in the box.
The former Manchester City defender then had the simple but brilliantly excited task of laying the ball off to his captain, who bent it into the far corner in typically unstoppable style.
“Messi celebrates a grand of games with a grand goal,” talkSPORT commentator Ian Danter said. “Argentina hit the front inevitably through Messi.”
Dean Saunders added: “It’s as quick as a flash, it’s in the net before you can see it, what a finish.”
More incredible than the fact it was Messi’s first knockout goal in five World Cups, is that he’s not the only one, with fellow all-time great and long-time adversary Cristiano Ronaldo yet to bag a knockout goal in football’s biggest tournament.
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