
Getty Image / James Williamson
There’s so much you can say about Barcelona legend, current PSG talisman, and Argentinian legend Lionel Messi. The diminutive forward is regarded as quite possibly the greatest player in the history of soccer. He’s won everything there is to win in a career, except the thing that matters the most: the World Cup.
This year’s edition in Qatar will be his last chance to win a World Cup, as the 35-year-old is approaching the twilight of his career. If he wins the tournament for Argentina, it will be hard to say he isn’t the greatest of all-time.
And, it didn’t take him long to make an impact, as he found himself on the scoresheet less than ten minutes into the sky blue and white’s first opener against Saudi Arabia Tuesday morning.
Lionel Messi scored a penalty in the first 10 minutes of the match
After the Argentinians got off to a frisky start. Messi was looking active and likely to score.
It didn't take long for Messi to get a shot on goal ⚡️🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/z3qa3ayw4H
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 22, 2022
Then, they drew a penalty off of this play. There appeared to be multiple fouls in the box.
"There was 2 holding fouls on this free kick situation." @DrJoeMachnik breaks down the penalty called against Saudi Arabia ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/5vrwNDY0YV
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 22, 2022
For those unfamiliar, any player on the field can take a penalty in soccer, not just the player that was fouled. Naturally, manager Lionel Scaloni went to his talisman. Messi delivered in the 10th minute with a classy penalty.
MESSI SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL OF THE 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Aew5QiCJTr
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 22, 2022
Here’s another angle.
MESSI SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL OF THE 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Aew5QiCJTr
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 22, 2022
Classy penalty by Messi there, who sent the keeper the wrong way with his hips. And, the world’s second-most followed person on Instagram, behind Cristiano Ronaldo,
The fans lost their minds at Lusail Stadium in Qatar as they watched Messi score.
Argentina's fans went WILD when Messi scored 🥳🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/jObBAi6lyU
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 22, 2022
He almost scored soon after. But, he was ruled to be offside.
Messi was this close to having a second goal 👀 pic.twitter.com/2dBvJpQiCm
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 22, 2022
The goal was Messi’s 6th World Cup Goal. The record for most career goals at the World Cup is an astonishing 16 by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. This is Lionel Messi’s fourth World Cup.
As it stands, it won’t be hard to imagine the PSG man scoring a few more in this match.