After netting a goal in his team's 2-1 World Cup loss to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Argentina captain Lionel Messi matched one of Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo's records.
Messi scored his first World Cup goal in Qatar this year in less than 10 minutes.
After Saud Abdulhamid fouled midfielder Leandro Paredes in the box during Argentina's World Cup Group C opener against Saudi Arabia, the 35-year-old converted the penalty early on.
Messi’s goal against Saudi Arabia means the Paris Saint-Germain forward has now scored at four different World Cup tournaments, becoming only the fifth footballer ever to do so – after Pele, Uwe Seeler, Miroslav Klose, and Ronaldo.
His eternal-rival Ronaldo can become the outright record-holder if he scores at Qatar 2022.
Meanwhile, Messi’s early goal against Saudi Arabia was his 92nd international goal for Argentina.
The former Barcelona captain has now scored against 34 different national teams, including the likes of Bolivia, Uruguay, and Ecuador; Brazil; Chile; Paraguay; Estonia; and Venezuela.
Messi will now hope to lead Argentina to victory in their next game against Mexico on Saturday.
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