Argentina secure their spot in the Quarter-finals! 👏@adidasfootball | #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 3, 2022
Lionel Messi scored on his 1,000th career appearance in Argentina’s 2-1 win over Australia at the World Cup on to surpass his great predecessor Diego Maradona’s tournament total and set up a quarter-final clash with the Netherlands.
Argentina march on to the quarter-finals, where they will face a strong Netherlands side fresh from a 3-1 victory over the USA.
Messi’s 789th goal, his first ever in the knockout phase of a World Cup, arriving in his 1,000th match as a senior professional. It was a priceless piece of history from a player who wants to sign off from this tournament in possession of the ultimate trophy. This is the first goal for Messi in the knockout round of the World cup .
The pursuit is still alive, The maestro was at the height of his powers, not only scoring the opening goal
but also creating a series of chances for his teammates as Argentina looked to put away Australia.
Goals from Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez are enough to send Argentina to the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
Lionel Messi put Argentina 1-0 at 35′ of play in the 1st half
After a free-kick on the right side comes to no avail, he receives the ball again just inside of the box on the right side.
Despite being covered by several Australian bodies, he is able to eke out just the right amount of space to curl a ground shot past the keeper’s right into the net.
The stadium has gone berserk as he scores his first-ever World Cup goal in the knockout stages.
High praise for his defenders 🙌 @Budweiser Player of the Match, Lionel Messi, singled out Argentina's centre-backs following their Round of 16 victory against Australia 🇦🇷 #ARGAUS @budfootball #POTM #YoursToTake #BringHomeTheBud pic.twitter.com/tM78gAKJZ8
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 4, 2022
A defensive lapse from Australia gives Argentina a 2-0 lead as Alvarez scores at 57′ of play in the 2nd half.
After another casual back pass, this time from Rowles to his goalkeeper, Ryan, the shot-stopper quickly realises he is under pressure as two Argentina attackers advance on him quickly.
He just doesn’t have any room to get it away as his feeble attempt is intercepted by Alvarez on the right side, who side steps to knock the ball past his left side.
The fans came, and Messi delivered! 🤩
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 3, 2022
After scoring his first goal for Argentina in a #FIFAWorldCup knockout game, Lionel Messi takes home the @Budweiser Player of the Match award. 🍺
🇦🇷 #ARGAUS 🇦🇺 @Budfootball #POTM #YoursToTake #BringHomeTheBud #BudweiserWorldCup pic.twitter.com/9MfaZGkudx
The ball ends up inside the net on the far post, and Argentina fans are sent into ecstasy.
Fernandez own goal gives Australia hope at 77′ in the 2nd Half, Argentina 2-1 Australia
Goodwin tries to find a receiver inside of the box from distance, but the ball hits at Fernandez.
The midfielder, trying to direct the header away from the net, ends up wrong-footing his own goalkeeper as the ball goes past Martinez and into the net.
Final Score :
| Teams | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Final Score |
| Argentina | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Australia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Argentina beat Australia by 2-1