Lionel Messi starred as Argentina progressed to the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a 2-1 win over Australia.
Match Report
Messi marked the 1,000th senior game of his career with a measured finish for the breakthrough goal late in the first half and Mat Ryan's error allowed Julian Alvarez to double the advantage early in the second.
There were late scares for Argentina after Craig Goodwin's shot deflected in off Enzo Fernandez and it needed a dramatic tackle from Lisandro Martinez and a fine save from Emiliano Martinez for them to hold on.
It was a spirited effort from Graham Arnold's side who can be proud of their tournament but it is Messi and Argentina who will face the Netherlands in the last eight. This is not always a fluent Argentina side but with the little genius in the team they can dream.
Match Events
0' KICK-OFF! Who can win this match?
5' Handball in the box but ref says no penalty!
15' Yellow Card! J. Irvine booked
16' Gomez fires his shot into the sky
34' Lionel Messi scored for Argentina
56' GOAL! Argentina 2-0 Australia (Julián Álvarez)
65' Brilliant Dribble By Messi
76' GOAL! Argentina 2-1 Australia (Craig Goodwin)
81' Lisandro Martínez makes an important clearance
89' How could Lautaro miss such a goal??
91' CLOSE! Messi’s shot wide out
Line-ups
Argentina XI: Messi, Gomez, Otamendi, E. Martinez, Acuna, De Paul, Nahuel Molina, Romero, Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández
Subs: Di Maria, F. Armani, Tagliafico, Gerónimo Rulli, Paredes, Pezzella, Dybala, Correa, G. Rodriguez, Exequiel Palacios, Lautaro, Gonzalo Montiel, Foyth, Martinez, Thiago Almada
Australia XI: A. Behich, M.Leckie, Mooy, Ryan, Mitchell Duke, Degenek, J. Irvine, Souttar, Kye Rowles, Riley McGree, Keanu Baccus
Subs: D. Vuković, Andrew Redmayne, B.Wright, Craig Goodwin, Awer Mabil, J. MacLaren, Ajdin Hrustic, Jason Cummings, Thomas Deng, Fran Karacic, Nathaniel Atkinson, Cammy Devlin, Joel King, Marco Tilio, Garang Kuol
joeejyk
887
C Ronaldo is better than Messi if you disagree with me then you're right[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Nandha77
869
Messi is 8th Wonder of the world ❤🐐
RaghibMustafa
766
The UNSUNG HERO of Argentina Lisandro Martinez 🔥🔥🔥
MdIsmaiJenna
686
That's why I love him the most what a performance from my goat pls one like for him
Mohkudan
518
The Lautaro Martinez that played today 😭😭
AndreSmart
458
Lautaro Martinez is very useless, 3 chances to kill off the game U wasted all of Messi's passes
Fofanah10
430
Messi has scored past 129 goalkeepers in his career. That is utterly ridiculous lmao🤡
Footballking26
413
They follow him now they play with him🇦🇷🤍💙✊
AustyUba2020
403
If I'm ever sad, I'll just remember that the world is 4.6 billion years old and somehow I managed to exist at the same time as Leo Messi! 🐐
FootballChief
367
This butcher saved Argentina again
LM10DGOAT
355
That last minute save💥💥
Ageerjok
343
Hey, GOAT. You good👍🏿 what a moment 🥰
N0_N0NsENSE
303
100th game as a captain for Messi and he prevails. Goat for a reason 🐐
MESSIoverPENALDO
273
Messi score on his 1000th game and a man of the match performance
Yungswag20
233
The real goat show up when you need him 💪🏼
Ellenmed
64
The GIF is already here, my pleasure: https://bit.ly/3VM0vht
chismenta
29
Lautaro Martinez is very useless, 3 chances to kill off the game U wasted all of Messi's passes
i tell you now we all see Alvarez is way better
deomodricdavid
24
Messi's Fans will not skip Without a thumb this picture of the GOAT,, deserved to MOTM
greatsusovan
21
Lautaro Martinez is very useless, 3 chances to kill off the game U wasted all of Messi's passes
Yes how he misses that in a world Cup if opposition was France or Brazil or Portugal then Argentina would go home today
jidadoruyz
21
Lautaro Martinez is very useless, 3 chances to kill off the game U wasted all of Messi's passes
I think Dybala should be played instead Laturo
wizbcilsuz
20
The UNSUNG HERO of Argentina Lisandro Martinez 🔥🔥🔥
[image]
I wonder why this coach keeps him on the bench. This guy stabilized the defense since he came on and most importantly prevented the game going into an extra time with that timely intervention
Z_i_k_k_0
18
C Ronaldo is better than Messi if you disagree with me then you're right[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
[image]
It unfair to messi why will they compare ronaldo to him
kingsammi
14
loading
itz_me_ojei
14
Look at what that win meant to Martinez ❤️🇦🇷
N0_N0NsENSE
14
Emi Martinez is the lucky charm for Argentina and Leo Messi. 💙🇦🇷
Dueckmorsz
14
Messi is 8th Wonder of the world ❤🐐
[image]
The inter Milan striker almost cost Argentina their place [Crylaugh] missing so many chances
EdisonBaby
13
congratulations ronaldo for show him we humans are not far away
itz_me_ojei
13
Emi Martínez for Argentina: Caps: 23🇦🇷 Trophies: 2 🏆 Clean sheets: 16 ❌⚽❌ Wins: 17 Losses: 1 What a save it was!!
Abdul0fficer
13
Lautaro Martinez is very useless, 3 chances to kill off the game U wasted all of Messi's passes
and what annoy me much about him is his lack of pressing upfront.
RogerCule
13
LEO MESSI - TOTAL STATS: 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Games. 7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣ Goals 3️⃣4️⃣8️⃣ Assists 💥 4️⃣1️⃣ Trophies. 6️⃣0️⃣ Free-Kicks. 5️⃣6️⃣ Hat-Tricks. 8️⃣ Pichichi. 7️⃣ Ballon D'Ors. 6️⃣ Golden Boot 6️⃣ FIFA Best Player. 4️⃣ IFFHS Playmaker. 2️⃣ UEFA Best Player. 1️⃣ LORIS Award. 1️⃣ World Cup Golden Ball. 1️⃣ Under 20 World Cup. 1️⃣ Olympic Gold Medal. ONE & ONLY 𓃵 LIONEL ANDRES MESSI!
itz_me_ojei
12
❗️Official, first round of QFs: Netherlands vs Argentina 🇳🇱🇦🇷
FazzieD-Muse
12
Sometimes I wonder if Ronaldo fans watch football at all. Messi is light years ahead of Ronaldo. Ronaldo is nothing without his fans padding him and his teammates feeding him like a baby.
AndreSmart
12
This butcher saved Argentina again
[image]
that goal line block was World class
itz_me_ojei
11
That save from Emiliano Martinez 👏🔥
ciabcdkmy
11
Lautaro Martinez is very useless, 3 chances to kill off the game U wasted all of Messi's passes
why they are not playing dybala instead of lautaro Martinez
zopikmuy
11
The Lautaro Martinez that played today 😭😭
[image]
And the two of them play for inter .
veecmpsuz
11
Lautaro Martinez is very useless, 3 chances to kill off the game U wasted all of Messi's passes
Yeah he should not get another chance… scary to have him out there instead of Alvarez
Bijay Thapa
11
Lautaro Martinez is very useless, 3 chances to kill off the game U wasted all of Messi's passes
Yeah bro. I thought he will score but no, he is shooting the ball like rocket.
Nigeria2279886
10
De Paul is the guy behind the force 👍🏿
Emmanuelguddish
10
I can’t believe my eyes 👀 What’s going on here
Salvadornorbety
10
Wat a performance from this Duo 💙
DavidDaevchinyama
10
when we say Messi is a football god this is what we mean
moh-nabeel11
10
the lautaro we saw today🤣😂
ngx
10
Argentina fans
android_17
10
Higuain is playing in this world cup, he came in Lautaro Martinez's body
Messi❤️❤️❤️
10
3 Realisation about today's performance of Argentina-------- 1.Messi = The Heartbeat 2. Lisandro Martinez = The Pulse 3. Emi Martinez = The Blocker
RPLEO10
10
The UNSUNG HERO of Argentina Lisandro Martinez 🔥🔥🔥
[image]
He, de paul & goalkeeper were the unsung heroes.
Vutbeilrst
10
why scaloni did not start him? can't understand.
Bcuz of height, Australian players r damn heighty
Nicholasnickman
10
take Messi out of this Argentina team, their attack will crumble... .Martinez was useless tonight
Amirul_PRO2004
10
I'm in love with this guy... what a player🔥