Lionel Messi had a penalty saved but Argentina dominated the game and won 2-0 against Poland on Thursday (December 1) to book their place in the last 16 of the Qatar World Cup. Messi also achieved another milestone as he went past Diego Maradona to become the player with the most World Cup games for La Albiceleste.
Lionel Messi surpasses the late, great Diego Maradona as the Argentine with the most World Cup matches played (22).#Qatar2022 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/LlNwJaOs8e
— Road to 2022 (@roadto2022en) November 30, 2022
Messi at World Cups: Messi has scored eight goals in 22 matches at the FIFA World Cup, spanning five editions (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022). He has the same number of goals as Maradona but has now surpassed him in terms of number of games.
Messi's scoring rate at football World Cups is 0.36 goals per game. It is lower than his 0.55 goals per game in his other international outings. Gabriel Batistuta (10 goals from 12 matches) has been Argentina's most prolific scorer at FIFA World Cups.
⏪ 15 years ago today an 18-year-old came on for his World Cup debut 🔁
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2021
⏱️ Astonishingly, within 13 minutes, Lionel Messi had provided his first assist and scored his first goal in the competition to help @Argentina to a 6-0 win 🤩
📸 #WorldCup Moments | #OnThisDay pic.twitter.com/UxQ1YGRL89
Messi for Argentina: Messi has scored 93 goals in 168 international matches for Argentina. This makes him the top goal-scorer of all time for Argentina. In the all time scorers list, Messi is fourth and second among active players, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
🚀 from #Messi𓃵 that sent all of @Argentina over the 🌝
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) November 26, 2022
Catch more of Messi magic at the #WorldsGreatestShow 👉🏻 LIVE on #JioCinema & @Sports18 📺📲#ARGMEX #Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/YFOPu4VEuA
Argentina reach the Round of 16: Argentina, after making disappointing start with 1-2 loss against Saudi Arabia, made it to the last 16 and topped its group with a 2-0 win against Poland. Poland also went through to the next round on goal difference.