Last Updated: 7th July, 2023 16:59 IST
Messi becomes highest goalscorer for Argentina in FIFA World Cup history
First Published: 14th December, 2022 8:19 IST
The Argentina captain scored from the penalty kick to give his side a 1-0 lead against Croatia in the 34th minute in the first semi-final match at Lusail Stadium
Lionel Messi broke Gabriel Batistuta’s record to become the highest goalscorer for Argentina in the history of the FIFA World Cup. This was Messi’s 11th goal.
The Argentina captain scored from the penalty kick to give his side a 1-0 lead against Croatia in the 34th minute in the first semi-final match at Lusail Stadium. Messi has equalled Hungarian great Sandor Kocsis and German goal-machine Jurgen Klinsmann with 11 goals. Only Pele (12), Just Fontaine (13), Gerd Muller (14), Brazil’s Ronaldo (15) and Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16) have scored more goals in FIFA World Cup than Messi. This match was also his 25th World Cup match, the most for any Argentinian player alongside Lothar Matthaus.
In this edition of the tournament he has scored five goals and is on level terms with Kylian Mbappe of France in the race for the Golden Boot.
The Argentine star’s superlative performance paved the way to an emphatic 3-0 win over Croatia and with this win, they have now entered the final. The Messi-led side will take on the winner of France versus Morocco match. This will be Messi’s second FIFA World Cup final as Argentina reached the final of FIFA World Cup 2014 but lost to Germany by a solitary goal. The star Argentine footballer is eyeing the third FIFA World Cup trophy for his country. (ANI)
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Regional Workshop organised in Shillong to improve healthcare systems
05th May 2024
Live Campaigning for phase 3 of LS polls ends today: PM Modi to hold rally in Uttar Pradesh
05th May 2024
Live Campaigning for phase 3 of LS polls ends today: Assam CM to hold bike rally in Guwahati
05th May 2024
Live J-K: IAF soldier injured in terrorist attack in Poonch dies, search operation underway
05th May 2024
WE RECOMMEND
ICC Rankings: Australia No. 1 in Tests, but India remain No. 1 in ODIs and T20Is
Reigning ICC World Test Championship winners Australia have overtaken India to secure the top spot in whites on the back of their stunning 209-run triumph over India in the World Test Championship decider at The Oval last year, as per ICC.
03rd May 2024
Babar Azam moves to fourth spot in T20I rankings, Suryakumar Yadav continues to be at top
Babar was Pakistan's leading run-scorer during the enthralling series that ended tied at 2-2, with the right-hander scoring a half-century in the fifth T20I of the series to finish with a total of 125 runs from four innings at the top of his side's batting order.
01st May 2024
IPL 2024: MI skipper Hardik Pandya fined for maintaining slow over-rate against LSG
Hardik was fined Rs 24 lakhs since it was MI's second offence of maintaining a slow over-rate in the ongoing season. Meanwhile, the rest of the cricketers from the MI playing eleven were fined Rs 6 lakhs or 25 per cent of match fees.
01st May 2024
Who are these kids announcing New Zealand’s T20 World Cup team?
Two children, a girl named Matilda and a boy named Angus announced the players shortlisted for the biennial event.
30th April 2024
India announce squad for T20 World Cup; Pant and Samson included, KL Rahul misses out
India have added two wicket-keepers, including Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson, to their squad.
30th April 2024