Messi Scores His 1000th Career game Clash Against Australia
In his 1000th career game, Argentina’s Lionel Messi scored against Australia on Saturday during a World Cup round of 16 match at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
With his goal on Saturday, Messi now has nine World Cup goals, trailing only Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina’s all-time leading scorer, by one goal.
In addition, it was his first goal in the World Cup knockout round, moving him ahead of Diego Maradona, an Argentine football great who scored eight goals at the World Cup in his career.
Messi’s goal, which gave Argentina the lead with a few minutes left in the first half, came from a free kick in the right corner.
Before expertly sending the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal, the prolific Argentine talisman played a one-two at the outside of the area.
Now 35 years old, Messi has 789 goals to his name. The seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or had declared that this would be his final World Cup.
