Just another Messi masterclass

For the first time in his illustrious career, 35-year-old scores a goal for Argentina in a knockout round of the FIFA World Cup

NEW DELHI: It is not often that Lionel Messi enters uncharted territory these days. But in his 1000th senior game, the Argentina legend scored his 789th goal; a goal that he will always remember because it was his first in 23 knockout games at the World Cup.

Up to that point in the game, Australia had been their combative selves.

Not afraid to get stuck in; not afraid of a fight. Messi was getting dispossessed pretty often as well and in the moments leading up the first goal even the 35-year-old got into a bit of a tiff with Australia’s left-back Aziz Behich, who then fouled Alejandro Gomez.

A free kick in a dangerous area, cue for Messi to move into a forward position and that is something he hadn’t done enough of till then. He was hovering in a slightly deeper position, as he often does for Argentina, and the threat gets nullified to a fair degree.

But here, the ball was already up and so was Messi. A defender is on him, but he quickly passes to Alexis Mac Allister and moves towards the penalty area.

The pace isn’t urgent, he isn’t rushing in but then he suddenly seemed to put the brakes on. The defender eased up a bit too but before he knew it Messi suddenly created some space and moved ahead.

Nicolas Otamendi, as the memes on the internet show, either passed or didn’t quite know what to do next with the ball.

However, it ended up at Messi’s feet and Otamendi, putting his hands up, simply got out of the way.

When Messi gets the ball, the stadium rises to its feet. Fans strain their necks, get on their toes and open their eyes.

If you are watching on TV, you probably go through a similar range of motions. Everyone pays attention. For magic is never far away.

Classy finish

Messi, ball at his feet and a crowd of defenders in front of him, somehow got the ball through and arrowed it into the corner too. The precision and the finish was pure class. It was pure Messi.

We have seen him do this so many times and yet it never fails to astonish us.

Australia came back into the game towards the end and made it really tight but for Argentina to go all the way, they need Messi to turn in performances like this.

According to stats put out by Squawka, he had the most shots (6), most key passes (4), most chances created (4), most big chances created (2), the most touches in the opposition box (9) and one goal too.

No lack of motivation

The fact that this is most likely his final World Cup is no doubt motivating the 35-year-old but the presence of his sons, 10-year-old Thiago and 7-yearold Mateo, is giving him a huge boost as well.

“From the very beginning, from kick-off to the final whistle, I’m thinking of my children,” Messi said after the win. “They’re growing older. They understand better what’s going on and they enjoy it more.

“The rest of the family was with us before at other World Cups and Copa Americas and Thiago, the eldest of my children, was also there. But he wasn’t aware of what it means to be there, when it is a win or we go home.

“Now they are living it from inside and for me it is something spectacular, we are excited as all Argentinians are.”

Argentina will play Netherlands, who eased past the United States of America 3-1, next in the quarter-finals on Friday night.