1st international match after World Cup triumph
World champions Argentina have won their first international match since winning the World Cup in Qatar against Panama. The team led by superstar Lionel Messi won 2-0 in Buenos Aires on Thursday. Messi scored the 800th goal of his professional career in front of around 83,000 spectators – 701 combined for FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain and 99 for his home country. No Albiceleste player has ever cracked the 100-goal mark.
Previously, Thiago Almada converted a Messi free-kick against the post to make it 1-0 for the hosts in the 78th minute. For the 21-year-old from the US club Atlanta United it was the first goal in Argentina jersey.
Before kick-off, tens of thousands of fans celebrated the Argentine national team at the River Plate club’s Monumental stadium in the Argentine capital. When tango singer Ariel Ardit sang Argentina’s national anthem before the start of the game, Messi and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez were moved to tears. Argentina will play another friendly against Curaçao in Santiago del Estero on Tuesday next week.
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“First of all, I would like to thank everyone for the affection we have received. We’ve said for a long time that we’ll do everything we can to win a World Cup,” said Messi after the game: “I also don’t want to forget all the teammates who made it and who also gave everything to achieve the goal to reach. They deserve the respect and recognition of the entire Argentine people. It turned out that winning the title is very difficult, it depends on many things. Sometimes it’s just the little things that count. So let’s enjoy the third star!”
¡Tenía que llegar tu gol, capitán! pic.twitter.com/UzM49A0Utg
— Selection Argentina (@Argentina) March 24, 2023
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