Argentina superstar Lionel Messi scored his 800th professional goal in a 2-0 win over Panama. At 89 minutes, Messi, 35, scored his 99th international goal from a free-kick, bringing the 83,000 fans at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires into raptures. Thiago Almada had scored 11 minutes earlier after a Messi free-kick had rebounded off the post. Manager Lionel Scaloni picked the same starting lineup as in the World Cup final, with Qatar’s whole squad posing for photos in front of a replica trophy before kickoff. But they had to wait as Panama goalkeeper Jose Guerra made many saves and the defenders fought heroically to keep the World Cup champions out.
“I’ve always wanted to come here in Argentina to join you in celebrating the greatest reward in the world, the World Cup,” Argentina superstar Lionel Messi said. “Let’s keep going and enjoy this moment because we’ve been waiting a long time to win it again. Let us rejoice at the third star.”
“I will be eternally grateful to these players. Football belongs to them, and we would not have won the World Cup without them,” Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said. “Everyone who wears this shirt tries their all, but the results aren’t always there. But we got it this time, and it’s wonderful.”
Meanwhile, Harry Kane set a new England scoring record with his 54th goal in a 2-1 victory over Italy. It’s been 103 days since the 29-year-old tied Wayne Rooney’s record with a penalty against France, but that night will be remembered for him missing his second spot-kick in a quarter-final defeat.
“I don’t like to go too far ahead, but I’m 29 years old and feeling fit and strong – the best I’ve felt in my career. I wish to live for many more years,” Harry Kane said. “Playing for England is definitely the best feeling I’ve ever had in sport. I want to keep doing it as long as I can, and as a striker, I want to score in every game. There will, hopefully, be many more.”
Roy Hodgson gave Kane his England debut in 2015, coming on as a second-half substitute for Wayne Rooney, and he scored his first international goal in just 80 seconds.
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