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In what will likely be his last World Cup, Lionel Messi entered Lusail Iconic Stadium looking to kickstart his quest for what’s most-eluded his famed career with a gimme.
As he walked off the pitch after the final whistle, however, he had helped deliver one his country’s greatest-ever embarrassments.
Coming into the tournament as one of the favorites and on a 36-match unbeaten run (one-shy of Italy’s all-time record), Argentina crumbled in the second half as they stunningly fell 2-1 to Saudi Arabia – who was the second-biggest underdog in the tournament – in their Group C opener. Messi actually put Argentina up 1-0 in just the 10th minute, cooly converting a penalty as it appeared the Albiceleste would cruise to an easy three points.
It all went wrong in the second half, however.
Less than three minutes after the break, Messi lost possession as he received a pass in the middle of the field. Saleh Al Shehri then latched onto a through ball and beat Argentina goalie Emiliano Martinez to tie the game 1-1. Just five minutes later, Salem Al-Dawsari’s curler gave Saudi Arabia a 2-1 lead as their rapid blitz left Argentina in disbelief.
With Argentina still up 1-0 in the first half, Messi appeared to score on a breakaway, but was called offsides (confirmed by VAR) on a razor-thin margin.
