Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi appeared in complete awe after his second chance to lift the World Cup trophy in front of rousing Argentina fans.
Thiago Almada opened the scoring for Argentina in the 78th minute against Panama after Messi’s free-kick strike ricocheted off the left side of the post.
Messi sealed Argentina’s 2-0 friendly win on Thursday with a sublime free-kick, with the Barcelona legend scoring for the 800th time in his senior playing career.
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The 35-year-old Argentine forward played an instrumental part in leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup trophy in Qatar.
Messi, who received the Golden Ball at the World Cup, registered three assists and scored seven times in Qatar as Argentina beat 2018 champions France in the final.
The Argentina players and manager Lionel Scaloni received a fitting homecoming from their fans at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires for the Panama match.
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And Messi, who has ruled out international retirement after the World Cup, appeared in complete ecstasy as he lifted the iconic trophy while receiving a spine-tingling reception.
“Simply beautiful,” one fan simply wrote.
Another added: “Oh, man, the dopamine and serotonin from this.”
A third said: “Goosebumps.”
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While one Twitter user posted: “The [GOAT] completing his legacy.”
Someone else commented: “What a video, man. The greatest sportsman EVER.”
And a sixth tweeted: “Can’t believe he won it, man.”
Speaking ahead of Argentina’s 2-0 win against Panama, Scaloni revealed that there would always be a place in his squad for Messi until the Argentine decides to call it time on his international playing career.
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“Messi will continue to come until he says otherwise,” he said.
“I see him happy on the pitch and within the selection. Leo’s looking good to me. He deserves all that love.
“He and all the players who are here deserve to go out and receive that love because they have not been able to live it.”
Topics: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Football
Adnan Riaz