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Match preview
Lionel Messi is aiming to take another gargantuan stride towards GOAT status in football with a win over Australia in the round of 16 of the Qatar 2022 World Cup as the legendary Argentina captain plays his 1000th game in football.
1000 games have brought in a record-breaking amount of goals, a Copa America, numerous titles at club level, but no World Cup so far. On the other hand, this should be a fairly comfortably game for Messi and co. with the two-time world champions turning the heat up when they needed it most in the World Cup.
Messi played a part in most of the action as Argentina dominated Poland to secure knockout football at the World Cup, but it was Julian Alvarez and Alexis Mac Allister who scored the goals for their country in that game. Argentina saw 74% of the ball, had 23 efforts on goal and had 12 of those go on target. Messi did, however, miss a penalty.
As for Australia, they ended up making relatively easy work of their group, losing only to France. They also managed to beat Tunisia thanks to a goal from Mitchell Duke, before beating Denmark with another 1-0 scoreline as Matthew Leckie.
It’s a massive game for Messi and this should be another game in which he further stamps his mark as one of, if not the best to ever do it.
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