It looks like one of his archi-predictable scenarios written on the chain to feed streaming platforms. After hitting the uprights of the Monumental Buenos Aires twice, Lionel Messi planted a majestic free-kick during Argentina – Panama in a friendly, the Albiceleste's first home game since their world championship title in Qatar. The "Pulga" scored in the 89th minute his 800th goal in 1,017 professional matches, eleven minutes after the opening score of Thiago Almada, the midfielder of Atlanta United (United States).

Despite the dominance of the locals, the Panamanians held out for a long time before cracking in front of 83,000 spectators who could have been 1.5 million, if all ticket requests could have been honored. The players gathered in a joyful round in the center of the field were then able to relive the world title and once again, Messi was presented with the trophy in hand, in a capsized stadium.


"800 GOLES":
Porque Lionel Messi convirtió un gol ante Panamá y alcanzó los 800 en su carrerapic.twitter.com/GN82QjFkm1

— Por qué es tendencia? (@porquetendencia) March 24, 2023

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"Let's enjoy this, this third star. It's very difficult to win a World Cup," Messi told the microphone from the pitch, saying "not to forget all the players with whom we tried to lift this Cup without succeeding" in previous editions.

For the Albiceleste, it was the return to an Argentine lawn, and the first real communion with their hinchada since the aborted parade of December 20, when the excess (4 to 5 million on the route of the bus) had forced to abort the parade of victory, finished ... by helicopter.

More than four hours of festivities before the game

Smug smiles like Messi, tears in their eyes for goalkeeper "Dibu" Martinez or Lionel Scaloni, the world champions, their children at their side, heard the Monumental sing before the match Muchachos, the song that became the anthem of Argentine fans at the World Cup, and forever associated with the 2022 title.

The pre-match had been a long party of more than four hours with concerts, fireworks, rebroadcast of images of the World Cup, and incessant succession of songs to the glory of the team or players. The party ended with a lap of honor of the heroes accompanied by their wives and children.

Panama, the head elsewhere

Panama, ranked 61st in the FIFA rankings, fielded a second team, with coach Thomas Christiansen - who had sent an assistant to Buenos Aires - announcing that he was focusing on an important match of his team against Costa Rica on Tuesday in the Concacaf Nations League.



After Panama, it will be Tuesday the turn of the small Caribbean island (160,000 inhabitants) of Curacao, 86th FIFA, to serve as a kind foil to the Albiceleste, in the provinces this time, in Santiago del Estero, in the north of the country.

  • Football
  • World Cup 2022
  • Sport
  • Argentina
  • Lionel Messi
  • Panama