What curse ended with Lionel Messi’s goal against Australia in his fifth World Cup?

The relationship of Lionel Messi with the World Cups is not directly proportional to what he earned in his career at club level. Reason why the captain of Argentina seeks to end in Qatar 2022 his bad scoring streak: eight goals in 22 games. Annotations that until today were not given from the round of 16, in any of the five editions in which he participated.

His little importance in direct elimination matches ended in the present World Cup party. 35 minutes into the duel against Australia, corresponding to the round of 16, the Albiceleste captain picked up a ball inside the rival area and unleashed an unstoppable left-footed shot for goalkeeper Mathew Ryan. Thus came the first goal for the River Plate, a result that places them in the quarterfinals, an instance where the Netherlands awaits.

Neither Germany 2006, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018 had been able to witness the ’10’ score a goal of such significance. A new sign that the Argentine fans will surely add to their endless list of cabals, which make them dream of becoming champions on December 18.

Lionel Messi’s goals in the World Cups

Gone was his first goal in the German party 16 seasons ago. That score that came coincidentally with his debut in the World Cup. He closed the 6-0 win against Serbia for the second day of group F. Then he had an absence of sacred cries in South Africa 2010.

With the goal against the ‘kangaroos’, Messi recorded his third goal in the tournament and established himself as one of the top scorers in the competition. He shares the podium with Kylian Mabappé (France), Álvaro Morata (Spain), Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) and Álvaro Morata (Spain). If he hadn’t missed his penalty against Poland, he would lead the ranking alone.

This target came in a more than special match for the PSG star. And it is that against those of Oceania he celebrates his 1000th game, scoring his goal 789 between the team and clubs. A legend who says goodbye in Qatar and hopes to do it in a big way.

Leo’s ninth sacred cry is added to his seven assists in a World Cup and places him in the third position of the most influential footballers in attack in World Cup history. He equaled Diego Armando Maradona and the Teutonic Thomas Muller.