“If set piece taking is an art, then Messi is the Picasso of it”- Fans react as Lionel Messi hits stunning freekick to reach 800 career goals
Twitter erupts after Lionel Messi freekick goal to reach 800 goal mark
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Argentina won 2-0 against Panama on Thursday night with goals from youngster Thiago Almada and an astounding freekick from the star player Lionel Messi. This was the 800th goal of his professional career and is now one short of the 100-goal mark for the national squad. Messi became the second-ever player to reach 800 goals and Ronaldo, who holds the all-time record for career goals with 830, is the only other player that has reached the mark.
World champions Argentina returned to the pitch for the first time since beating France in the World Cup final in December, welcoming Panama for a friendly at the El Monumental Stadium. Coach Lionel Scaloni fielded a strong XI for the clash in Argentina, with captain Messi unsurprisingly stealing the show with an eye-catching performance. He struck the post twice with two free-kicks before getting lucky the third time.
“I always dreamed of this moment, celebrating with you,” an emotional Messi said after the match, standing with his family on the pitch. He lifted the World Cup trophy once more in front of his fans and took a slow victory lap with his teammates, who carried miniatures of the same trophy, as fireworks erupted over the stadium.
Argentina hosts Curacao next on Tuesday and with momentum on their side, will aim for another win and hope their maestro performs at the same level and aim for his century goal mark.
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Lionel Scaloni claims Messi will always have a place in the squad
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has insisted that Lionel Messi has complete control over his international future. Messi revealed after the 2022 World Cup final that he would continue to play for the Albiceleste after speculation that he could hang up his international boots at the age of 35. Scaloni has also left the door open for the Paris Saint-Germain superstar to be a part of his squad at the next World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States in four years’ time.
The Argentina boss will leave any retirement decision completely up to Messi, who was mobbed by fans after returning to Buenos Aires at the start of the international break, and thinks he is still in top shape to contribute to the collective cause. “Messi will continue to come until he says otherwise. I see him happy on the pitch and within the selection,” Scaloni said at a press conference. “Leo’s looking good to me. He deserves all that love. He and all the players who are here deserve to go out and receive that love because they have not been able to live it.”
Scaloni has called up most of his World Cup-winning squad for Argentina’s duo of friendlies against Panama and Curacao. The Albiceleste’s next competitive slate of games will come in the 2024 Copa America.
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Arpan Ghosh
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