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Lionel Messi’s dream and Argentina are still alive at the World Cup.
The South American powerhouse powered past the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup. Number-three Argentina was determined to win and avoid being the second upset of the day when Croatia defeated top-ranked and tournament favorite Brazil.
Messi’s superlatives are unsurpassed. The 35-year-old is one of the finest to ever play the game. But there’s one thing missing on his impressive soccer resume: a World Cup title.
Argentina got on the board first thanks to Lionel Messi, of course. In the 35th minute, Messi somehow threaded the ball through three Dutch defenders to Nahuel Molina. Molina poked it with his right foot beyond the towering 6-foot-8 Netherlands goalkeeper Andries Noppert. It was Molina’s first-ever international goal.
And then, in the 73rd minute, Messi made his presence really known when he lined up to take a penalty kick. With a swift strike low and to the right, Messi flatfooted the keeper to extend the Argentina lead to 2-0.
