FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi score in milestone match as Argentina beat Australia 2-1, reach Quarter-finals, Player ratings.

Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez goal score helps pumped up a 2-1 win and reach a quarter-finals to face Netherlands.

Messi's side saw shock defeat to Saudi Arabia tempered expectations but Argentina recovered to top their group with victories against Mexico and Poland.

Copa America champions, Lionel Messi has achieved another Milestone as the Star marked the 1,000th International game of his career with his first goal in the knockout stage of a World Cup to lead Argentina to a 2-1 win over Australia.

However, this was not the easy victory that most people anticipated over the underdog Australians. In the waning seconds of a match that was becoming more and more tense, Emi Martinez made a sprawling save to avert extra time and the possibility of another shock in a World Cup full of them.

Argentina had late scares after Craig Goodwin's shot deflected in off Enzo Fernandez; they were saved by Emiliano Martinez's wonderful save and Lisandro Martinez's dramatic challenge.

Messi gave Argentina the lead in the 35th minute with a flourish of his fabled left foot. It was his third goal of the competition and ninth goal overall at the World Cup, one more than Diego Maradona.

The second goal was scored by Julián lvarez, who pounced on a heavy touch by Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan and tapped the ball into an empty net. However, this was no easy trip to a quarterfinal matchup with the Netherlands.

World Cup 2022 Fantasy football: Argentina 2-1 Australia, Player ratings.

Argentina: Emi Martinez 6, Molina 6, Romero 7, Otamendi 7, Acuna 7, de Pau 8, Fernandez 8, Mac Allister 7, Alvarez 7, Messi 9, Gomez 7.

Subs: Tagliafico 6, Martinez 7, Montiel 6, Palacios 6, Lautaro Martinez 5.

Australia: Ryan 6, Behich 6, Rowles 7, Souttar 7, Degenek 6, Leckie 6, Baccus 6, Mooy 6, McGree 6, Duke 6, Irvine 6.

Subs: Karacic 7, Hrustic 6, Kuol 6, Goodwin 7, MacLaren 6.

Player of the Match - Lionel Messi.

Messi Dominance, 1000th Game, 789 Goals, Aussies Bad Luck Opta Key Stats.

On the only other occasion Australia reached the last 16 — in 2006 — the team lost to eventual champion Italy.

Argentina have progressed from five of their last six round of 16 matches at the World Cup, the only exception during this run coming in 2018 against eventual champions France.

The round of 16 remains the furthest stage that Australia have ever reached at the World Cup, also eliminated at this point of the competition in 2006 against Italy, who went on to lift the trophy.

Julian Alvarez became the sixth player to score in each of their first two World Cup starts for Argentina, and the first to do so since Hernan Crespo in 2006.

Lionel Messi scored in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time for Argentina, with his previous eight goals in the competition all coming during the group stage. Only Gabriel Batistuta (10) has scored more World Cup goals for Argentina than Messi (9).

Messi made his 1000th career appearance in this match for Argentina (169), Barcelona (778) and Paris Saint-Germain (53). He has 789 goals and 338 assists. Australia were the 129th team he has scored against in his career.

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