In an international friendly match, Argentina took on Iceland. In this game, Messi returned from injury to the national team and scored a goal from the penalty spot, marking his 117th goal of his national team career and showing a smooth return to form.
🩹 Injury Concerns and Successful Recovery
Prior to this, Messi had been troubled by injuries in club competitions. On May 25, during a match between Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union, Messi provided two assists to help his team win 6-4, but he was forced to leave the game due to injury in the 73rd minute. Following the match, Inter Miami announced that Messi had suffered fatigue-related muscle strain in his left hamstring, raising concerns among fans and media. However, after rejoining the Argentina national team, Messi has fully recovered and has seamlessly resumed training with the squad.
🎯 Aiming for World Cup Glory and New Records
As Messi prepares for his sixth World Cup appearance, his goals for this tournament are clear. He hopes not only to lead Argentina to defend their World Cup title but also to challenge several historical records. To date, Messi has played in 26 World Cup matches, scoring 13 goals and providing 8 assists, contributing to a total of 21 goals in World Cup history, tied with Pelé for the most participations in World Cup goals, while being fourth on the all-time World Cup scoring list. If he manages to score three goals in this World Cup, he will equal Miroslav Klose's record for the most goals in World Cup history, creating a new legacy.
Prior to the friendly against Iceland, Messi did not participate in Argentina's match against Honduras, as the team chose to rest him on the bench. Notably, the two teams had faced each other in the 2018 World Cup group stage, where Argentina drew 1-1 with Iceland, and Messi was unable to score, leaving a slight regret.
Before the match against Iceland, Argentina's coach Scaloni confirmed that Messi would play, though the specific duration was not specified. He mentioned that they would communicate based on Messi's physical condition and plan his playing time with the assurance of avoiding injury risks. According to TYC Sports, due to Messi's recent recovery from fatigue-related injury and the wet, muddy conditions of the pitch after heavy rains, Scaloni decided to have Messi initially remain on the bench for protection.
⚽ Cameo Performance, Scoring a Securing Goal
In the 68th minute, Messi came off the bench and changed the course of the match. After entering, he quickly delivered a precise through ball that led to Lautaro being fouled by the goalkeeper in the penalty area, prompting the referee to award a penalty. In a crucial moment, Messi converted the penalty effortlessly, helping Argentina extend their lead to 2-0.
This goal also allowed Messi to break multiple football historical records once again:
- 117th Goal for the National Team: This is his 117th goal for the national team, continuing to extend his own record as the South American player with the most international goals.
- 199th Appearance for the National Team: This match marked Messi's 199th appearance for Argentina, further extending the record for South American players' national team appearances.
- Total Contribution of 1326 Goals: Messi's total contributions to goals in his professional career have reached 1326, continuously breaking the record for the highest contributions by any player in football history.
- Total Goals Surpassing 911: His career total has surpassed 911 goals, further extending the record for historical goals by a South American player.
- Expanding the List of Teams Scored Against: Iceland became the 41st different team that Messi has scored against in his national team career, further expanding his list of opponent teams.