World Cup 2022: Lionel Messi keeps Argentina dreams alive after scoring in 1,000th game

It conscionable had to beryllium him.

In his 5th World Cup, the 'magician' yet scored his archetypal ever World Cup knockout extremity arsenic Argentina took different measurement to ending their 36-year hold for World Cup glory with a 2-1 second-round triumph against Australia.

After a nervy opening half-hour, Messi intervened to unfastened the scoring and from determination it was mostly plain sailing astatine an perfectly bouncing Ahmad bin Ali Stadium - until a precocious extremity from the gallant Australians gave Argentina 1 almighty scare.

The Argentines present look a mouth-watering quarter-final against the Dutch with the hopes of a federation erstwhile again inevitably resting connected their fig 10, who is present the tournament's joint-top scorer with 3 goals.

Messi, who scored his 789th vocation goal, said: "I americium blessed for taking different measurement forward, achieving different objective. It was a precise beardown and hard match."

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand said connected BBC One: "The champion idiosyncratic show from a subordinate astatine this World Cup. It was astir god-like. I've not seen thing similar this.

"How is helium doing this? He is embarrassing players with his caput up. He's taking radical connected and is capable to spot the full pitch, wherever radical are. He is phenomenal."

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Fans successful awe of Messi

"Muchachos, ahora nos volvimo' a ilusionar."

It's the Argentina opus that has gone viral backmost home.

The players person been videoed chanting it and it was those lyrics - translated arsenic 'Boys, present we got excited again' - that were connected the lips of supporters before, during and aft the game.

Albiceleste faithful were bouncing connected the metro and successful the stands arsenic they sang it connected repetition and they witnessed a masterclass from 35-year-old Messi.

Sharp intakes of enactment echoed astir Ahmad bin Ali each clip the small left-footer got his celebrated footwear connected the shot and helium rocked the stadium with a delightful opener.

There was lone 1 result erstwhile the shot dropped to him successful the box, caressing a nerveless decorativeness into the acold country to acceptable Argentina connected their way.

Fans were near chanting "Messi, Messi, Messi" astatine the last whistle and helium joined his team-mates successful jumping up and down successful beforehand of their adoring pursuing agelong aft the end.

Messi said: "These are astonishing feelings, I americium truly blessed to stock their beauteous infinitesimal with the fans. I cognize however overmuch effort they person enactment into coming present and I cognize the full of Argentina wants to beryllium here. The bonds, the national we person is thing beautiful.

"It is unbelievable the fans' passion, vigor and joy. It is unbelievable. They are surviving it from wrong and I spot however they endure and bask it. That is spectacular. They are excited, arsenic each Argentinians are."

Former England skipper Alan Shearer said connected BBC One: "We're truthful fortunate to beryllium successful this stadium to ticker him. What a show from him, we've talked astir his ability, the hunger and desire.

"The quality to tally with the shot which attracts truthful galore players, allowing him to escaped up his team-mates.

"The mode Messi works that space, the mode helium carries the shot erstwhile determination is overmuch going connected astir him. He's got everything.

"Whenever helium gets the shot the full stadium gets connected its feet. It doesn't substance wherever helium is connected the pitch, the full stadium rises."

Messi's extremity was remarkably his archetypal successful the knockout signifier of a World Cup but his full of 9 is conscionable 1 shy of Gabriel Batistuta's grounds for Argentina.

Against Australia, helium completed 90% of his passes, created 4 chances and had 9 touches successful the absorption area.

Socceroos brag Graham Arnold added: "He is incredible. One of the top ever. We truly worked hard not to beryllium successful awe of him but helium is remarkable.

"Argentina should beryllium truthful arrogant and blessed they person players of that calibre."

Similarities to 1986?

Under Lionel Scaloni, Argentina are chasing a 3rd satellite crown - the past coming successful 1986 erstwhile Diego Maradona inspired them to assistance the trophy.

Walking extracurricular the stadium, it was a oversea of Argentina fig 10 shirts with the names of some Messi and Maradona printed connected the backs.

BBC presenter and erstwhile England striker Gary Lineker played against Maradona successful 1986, successful a quarter-final made infamous by the Argentina prima punching the shot into the nett for the game's opening goal.

Lineker said: "It does punctual maine a spot of 1986 and the broadside with Maradona. Hard to play against, tough, enduring pugnacious games and seeing their mode through.

"They were hard to bushed and relied connected the magic of Maradona. There are truthful galore similarities. Maradona was astatine his peak, Messi is evidently coming to the extremity of his career. But tin they bash it?

"He does things I've not seen immoderate different subordinate but astir apt Maradona do. And to person 2 of those players, some left-footed and some from the aforesaid country, some small...

"Different eras, bask them both."

Former Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta added: "We are inactive relying connected Messi excessively much. The archetypal fractional was not bully capable and we needed to play a batch quicker.

"When Messi is connected the ball, helium is the lone 1 who brings truthful overmuch information and a existent menace going forward."

Messi by numbers

• Messi became the oldest Argentine to people a World Cup knockout extremity - taking the 'record' disconnected Roberto Ayala.
• He is 1 of lone six players to look astatine 5 antithetic World Cups.
• He is the 2nd subordinate to people astatine slightest 3 World Cup goals aft his 35th birthday, aft Roger Milla (five) for Cameroon.

What you said connected social:

SuperSpoonerman: Messi's twilight years successful shot look to beryllium going a batch amended than Ronaldo's

James: That had an aerial of a Sunday League crippled successful which the 1 bully subordinate successful it said; I'm going to people present and there's thing you tin bash to halt me.

Beks: No footballer volition ever get to Messi's level. NO ONE!!!

Damian Clough: Messi is 2 years younger than Ronaldo but ever seemed a batch much mature

Roy Neymer: Lionel Messi is not normal.

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