“I want to keep experiencing a few more matches as world champion,” the 35-year-old told Argentinian television.
Browsing: Lionel Messi
It meant that after his record 26th World Cup match, at the fifth and final time of asking, the 35-year-old Messi claimed the trophy….
In what many have dubbed to be the World Cup of the underdogs, Argentina bounced back from a shocking opening game defeat to Saudi Arabia to beating Mexico, Poland, Australia, Netherlands, and Croatia on their way to the final.
Messi lead Argentina to a 3-0 win over Croatia in their semi-final on Tuesday and will earn his 172nd cap at the weekend when he tries to bring the country its first World Cup title since 1986.
While all eyes were on Argentina captain Messi and his fifth bid to win the one major trophy eluding him, it was 22-year-old Alvarez who stole the show, earning the penalty before opening his own account at the end of a scintillating 50-metre run.
The 35-year-old has been a standout performer for his country in Qatar and has contributed to six of their nine goals in five matches, netting four times and providing two assists.
Emiliano Martinez saved the first two Dutch penalties to give Argentina a huge advantage and Lautaro Martinez sent Andries Noppert the wrong way to set up a date for the South Americans with Croatia in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
Thirty-two teams have been reduced to eight. At this stage, if you can’t be good for 90 or 120 minutes, then just be lucky
In his fifth World Cup in Qatar, the “magician” finally scored his first ever World Cup knockout goal for Argentina.
Messi reached the landmark in the Group C game against Poland in Doha where Argentina had to avoid defeat in order not to be eliminated.
The result however ensured that both teams booked their places in the knockout stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
After a dominant first half, Argentina failed to secure all three points after having two goals cancelled before the half time whistle. Seven time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, scored the only goal of the match for his side through a penalty in the first ten minutes of the match.
Ronaldo’s post quickly racked up over 30 million likes, while Messi’s lagged slightly behind at 24.5 million in 24 hours.
An early opener from Julian Alvarez and a brace from Angel Di Maria put the two-time world champions in control.
The 35-year-old Paris St-Germain forward will again shoulder Argentina’s hopes as the World Cup hold in Qatar.
The UAE team face a friendly match against Argentina on Wednesday at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.
The 39-year-old is aiming to be in Qatar to cheer his team, one of the tournament favourites, and star striker Lionel Messi.
The debate over the greatest of all time is one that will never be settled, but there is no doubt the diminutive playmaker is a true great of the modern era with seven Ballons d’Or to his name.
Off contract in June, Lionel Messi has put off talks about a new deal until after Argentina’s World Cup campaign.
The 21-year-old has spent the season on loan with Reims and has been an absolute revelation for the French side