Lionel Messi scores first World Cup knockout round goal of his career 🇦🇷

OneFootball

Dan Burke·3 December 2022

Lionel Messi scores first World Cup knockout round goal of his career 🇦🇷

Lionel Messi has achieved an awful lot in the game, but there really is a first time for everything.

Argentina2

Australia1

03/12/2022Full time

Messi started for Argentina against Australia in their World Cup last 16 tie on Saturday night to make the 1,000th senior appearance of his career.

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And to celebrate, the 35-year-old then scored the opening goal of the game.

789 - In his 1,000th career appearance, Lionel Messi has scored his 789th goal, and his first in the knockout stages of the World Cup. Breakthrough.
– Saturday, 3 December 2022

Remarkably, it was the first World Cup knockout round goal of his career, and it draws him level with a true legend of the game.

Lionel Messi realises an ambition by drawing level with Matthew Upson for goals in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
– Saturday, 3 December 2022

Lionel Messi has now scored as many major tournament goals as Cristiano Ronaldo (22). 🐐🐐
– Saturday, 3 December 2022

Better late than never.