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☆ Late Martinez winner over Salzburg sends Inter into Champions League last 16
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Champions League - Group D - FC Salzburg v Inter Milan - Red Bull Arena Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria - November 8, 2023 Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger Acquire Licensing RightsSALZBURG, Austria, Nov 8 (Reuters) - A late penalty by Lautaro Martinez helped Inter Milan book their spot in the Champions League last 16 with a 1-0 win at Salzburg on Wednesday, dashing the Austrian champions' knockout stage hopes with two games remaining. Substitute Martinez sealed the win for Inter from the spot five minutes from fulltime after Simone Inzaghi's men were awarded a penalty for a handball. Salzburg, who would have kept their last-16 qualifying chances alive with a draw, are third with three points. Martinez, who has scored 12 goals in 11 Serie A games this season, eventually gave Inter the lead, minutes after hitting the bar with an earlier chance. Inter, who last season reached the final and enjoyed their most successful Champions League campaign since lifting the trophy in 2010 under Jose Mourinho, edged Salzburg 2-1 in the reverse fixture last month.

Persons: Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, Leonhard Foeger, Lautaro Martinez, Martinez, Simone Inzaghi's, Davide Frattesi, Alessandro Bastoni, Jose Mourinho, Anita Kobylinska, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer Football, FC Salzburg, Inter Milan, Red Bull Arena Salzburg, Inter Milan's, REUTERS, Champions League, Salzburg, Inter, handball, Real Sociedad, Benfica, Austrian, Serie, League, Thomson Locations: Salzburg, Austria, SALZBURG, Austrian, Gdansk

☆ Unstoppable Martinez scores four as Inter cruise past Salernitana
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Inter captain Martinez has now scored nine goals in seven Serie A matches and holds a clear lead as the league's top scorer. While Inter dominated the match's early stages, Salernitana gradually found their footing and managed to control the tempo in a goalless first half. Martinez opened the scoring for Inter in the 62nd minute when he expertly collected Marcus Thuram's low cross into the box and delicately chipped the ball over Salernitana keeper Guillermo Ochoa. Martinez completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining, after a foul by defender Matteo Lovato, who had pulled Thuram's shirt. Inter host a Champions League group-stage match against Benfica on Tuesday, followed by a Serie A home game against Bologna next Saturday.

Persons: Stadio, Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, Alberto Lingria, Lautaro Martinez, Martinez, Marcus Thuram's, Guillermo Ochoa, Mateusz Legowski's, Nicolo Barella, Matteo Lovato, Carlos Augusto's, Simone Inzaghi, Tommy Lund, Toby Davis, Clare Fallon Organizations: Soccer, Salernitana, Inter Milan, Stadio Arechi, Inter Milan's, Rights, Serie, Inter, Milan, Lazio, Sky Sport Italia, Champions League, Benfica, Bologna, Thomson Locations: Salerno, Italy, San Siro, Gdansk

GENEVA (AP) — Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham made $100 million moves in the offseason and proved their worth Wednesday in Champions League debuts for their new clubs. England captain Kane and his likely successor Bellingham scored key goals for Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, respectively, to show why they are adored already by their new home fans. PSV Eindhoven was thrashed 4-0 in a no-doubt win sparked by England winger Bukayo Saka’s goal in the 8th. Late goals got Italian teams off to good starts in the last-ever group stage before the new Champions League format takes effect next year. OLD MASTERSReal Madrid was playing its 477th game in the European Cup or Champions League.

Persons: — Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Kane, Bellingham, ” Kane, Bayern “, ” Bellingham, Union Berlin, Bukayo Saka’s, Napoli, Sikou Niakaté, Lautaro Martínez, Union, Madrid’s, Jude Bellingham pirouetted, ”, Diego Armando Maradona, UNITED’S, Erik ten Hag, André Onana, Leroy Sané’s, Serge Gnabry, Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Højlund, Casemiro, António Silva, Silva, Karim Konaté, Roko Šimić, Oscar Gloukh, Jonathan David, KÍ Klaksvík, ___ Organizations: GENEVA, League, England, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Tottenham, CBS Sports, Bayern, Union, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Champions League, PSV Eindhoven, Serie, Braga, Inter, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Copenhagen, Europa League, Sevilla, Lens, Real Madrid, Union Berlin, Servette, SC Motor Berlin, Napoli, Atalanta, Benfica, Salzburg, EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE, Europa Conference League, Lille, Slovenian, Olimpija Ljubljana, Slovan Bratislava, Conference League Locations: Real Madrid, England, Madrid, Spanish, Mali, Argentina, Istanbul —, Geneva —, East Germany, ” Madrid, United, Denmark, French, Portuguese, Croatian, Israel, Canada, Faeroe

☆ Top of the table clash gives Milan derby extra edge
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Trevor Stynes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The match at the San Siro will be the first time since 1962 that the Milan sides meet while top of the table. But this Milan side are a different proposition from the team who put up such a disappointing defence of their league title last season. Preparations for the derby will mostly come down to the last few days with most of their starting players returning from international duty. Milan have a concern over Giroud after he went off injured in France's win over Ireland last week but are hopeful he can recover. Jose Mourinho's AS Roma, with just one point from three games, will try to kick-start their season when they host Empoli on Sunday.

Persons: Stefano Pioli, Massimo Pinca, San Siro, Stefano Pioli's, Tijjani Reijnders, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus, Cheek, Pulisic, Rafael Leao, Loftus, Reijnders, Milan, Sandro Tonali, Olivier Giroud's, Lautaro Martinez, Martinez, Simone Inzaghi, Romelu, Eden Dzeko, Marcus Thuram, Luka Jovic, Fikayo Timori, Simon Kjaer, Jose Mourinho's, Trevor Stynes, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Soccer, Juventus, AC Milan, Allianz, Milan, Inter, Serie, Napoli, Lazio, San, Fiorentina, Champions League, Serie A's, France's, Ireland, Juve, Genoa, Lecce, Jose Mourinho's AS Roma, Empoli, Thomson Locations: Turin, Italy, Saturday's Milan, Milan, Newcastle, Monza

☆ Messi to lead Argentina in opening World Cup qualifiers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Argentina v Panama - Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 23, 2023 Argentina's Lionel Messi during the match REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUENOS AIRES, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi will lead world champions Argentina in their opening World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia, the captain's first internationals since joining Major League Soccer's Inter Miami. Coach Lionel Scaloni's 32-man squad also features stalwarts including Angel Di Maria, who returned to Benfica this year, and defender Nicolas Otamendi. Argentina host Ecuador in Buenos Aires on Sept. 7 and travel to play Bolivia five days later. SquadGoalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven), Franco Armani (River Plate). Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (AS Roma), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton & Hove Albion), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Exequiel Palacios (Bayern Leverkusen) and Bruno Zapelli (Athletico Paranaense).

Persons: Lionel Messi, Agustin Marcarian, Lionel Scaloni's, Angel Di Maria, Nicolas Otamendi, Alan Velasco, Bruno Zapelli, Lucas Esquivel, Lucas Beltran, Paulo Dybala, Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso, Atalanta, Emiliano Martinez, Aston, Walter Benitez, Franco Armani, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Juan Foyth, Marcos Senesi, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Tagliafico, Athletico, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Guido Rodriguez, Facundo Buonanotte, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Exequiel Palacios, Nicolas Gonzalez, Lautaro Martinez, Angel Correa, Julian Alvarez, Alejandro Garnacho, Thiago Almada, Ramiro Sandolo, Janina Nuno Rios, Ed Omsond Organizations: Soccer Football, Estadio Monumental, REUTERS, Argentina, Ecuador, Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, Benfica, FC Dallas, Athletico Paranaense, Italy's Fiorentina, AS Roma, Ajax Amsterdam, Aston Villa, PSV Eindhoven, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis, Nottingham Forest, Villarreal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Olympique Lyonnais, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Bayern Leverkusen, Fiorentina, Inter, Manchester City, Inter Miami, Atlanta United, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Panama, Buenos Aires, BUENOS AIRES, Bolivia, Ecuador, Real, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Olympique, Benfica, Brighton, Liverpool, Athletico, Inter Milan, Manchester

☆ Inter glide to a comfortable 2-0 win at Cagliari
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 28 (Reuters) - First-half goals by Denzel Dumfries and Lautaro Martinez earned Inter Milan a comfortable 2-0 win at newcomers Cagliari in Serie A on Monday. After 21 minutes, a midfield mishap by Cagliari gave Marcus Thuram the chance to skilfully thread the ball to Dumfries, who executed an angled drive to break the deadlock. Unipol Domus buzzed with passionate energy as Cagliari fans once again welcomed Serie A matches after a year-long absence, following their goalless draw at Torino in the first round. Cagliari's Zito Luvumbo appealed for a penalty after he went down following a collision with the Inter defence but the referee waved play on. Just before the conclusion, Paulo Azzi had a golden opportunity to score for Cagliari but Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer produced a reflex save from point-blank range.

Persons: Denzel Dumfries, Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, Martinez, Federico DiMarco's, Simone Inzaghi, DAZN, Hakan Calhanoglu, Cagliari's Zito Luvumbo, Inzaghi, Paulo Azzi, Yann Sommer, Tommy Lund Organizations: Inter Milan, Cagliari, Serie, Dumfries, Torino, Serie A, Inter, Thomson Locations: Gdansk

☆ Man City 1-0 Inter Milan: Rodri's goal wins Champions League final as Pep Guardiola's team complete treble
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Adam Bate | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ilkay Gundogan (C) of Manchester City lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match against Inter at Ataturk Olympic Stadium. Manchester City completed the treble with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul. Having already overhauled Arsenal to retain the Premier League trophy and beaten Manchester United to lift the FA Cup at Wembley, this victory saw them match the achievement of their city rivals in 1999. City's task was made more difficult when Kevin De Bruyne trudged off injured in the first half, the second time in three seasons that he has departed a Champions League final with the game in the balance. The midfielder measured his finish, bending it beyond two Inter defenders and into the corner of the net to break the deadlock.

Persons: Ilkay Gundogan, Federico Dimarco, Ederson, Pep Guardiola, Kevin De Bruyne trudged, Rodri, Erling Haaland, Lukaku, Edin Dzeko, Lautaro Martinez, Manuel Akanji, Guardiola, Akanji, Bernardo Silva Organizations: Manchester City, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Champions, Inter, Ataturk, Inter Milan, Champions League, Ataturk Olympic, Arsenal, Premier League, Manchester United, Wembley, Guardiola Locations: Manchester, Istanbul, Rodri's, Romelu Lukaku, City, Europe, Turkey

☆ Jubilant Man City overcome Inter to complete the treble
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/17] Soccer Football - Champions League Final - Manchester City v Inter Milan - Manchester City fans at Manchester's 4TheFans Fan Park for the Champions League Final - Manchester, Britain - June 10, 2023 Manchester City fans celebrate after winning the Champions League final Action Images via... Read moreSummary City beat Inter 1-0 to win club's first Champions LeagueRodri scores 68th minute winner for Guardiola's sideVictory completes treble with FA Cup and Premier LeagueISTANBUL, June 10 (Reuters) - Manchester City finally expanded their domestic domination across the continent as they beat Inter Milan 1-0 with a second-half Rodri goal to win the Champions League for the first time and complete a rare treble on a nervous Saturday evening. An eruption of joy greeted the final whistle with City's players sprinting towards their fans in the Ataturk Stadium. It belongs to us," said City manager Pep Guardiola. City may have experienced a horrible sense of deja vu as chief playmaker De Bruyne also failed to finish the final two years ago when City fell short against Chelsea. It was City's night, and the celebrations will be long and loud, while for Inter there was no repeat of their surprise 2010 win over Bayern Munich.

Persons: club's, Ederson, Pep Guardiola, Kevin De Bruyne, De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Rodri, Guardiola, City's, Sheikh Mansour, Noel, Liam Gallagher, jinx, Simone Inzaghi's, Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Haaland, Andre Onana, Manuel Akanji, Lautaro Martinez, selfishly, Romelu, Bernardo Silva, Federico Dimarco, Edin Dzeko, Lukaku, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris, Ed Osmond Organizations: Soccer Football, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Champions, League, City, Inter, FA Cup, Premier League ISTANBUL, Premier League, FA, Champions League, Manchester, Chelsea, BT Sport, Oasis, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Roma, Sevilla, Europa League, Fiorentina, West Ham United, Europa Conference, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain, Spanish, Barcelona, Real, Liverpool, Porto, Brazilian

☆ Inter Milan Regains Some Past Glory With a Trip to the Champions League Final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Lautaro Martinez of Internazionale celebrates the team’s victory over AC Milan. Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesMILAN—For a club that had played for the biggest prize in European soccer five times before, Internazionale had begun to feel before this season like a sixth Champions League final might never come. A decade of financial challenges away from the pitch had somehow turned this blue blood into a Cinderella in blue-and-white stripes.

☆ Martinez deals knockout blow as Inter reach Champions League final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

I felt it, we did a great job in both games," said Martinez, who won the World Cup with Argentina in December. "Playing in the Champions League final is a dream. Inter coach Simone Inzaghi fielded an unchanged team from the first leg, with Martinez and Dzeko up front, having rested players in Serie A over the weekend. And never before in their history had they gone four games in a row without finding the net against Inter. The real disappointment would be not playing in the Champions League next year."

☆ Inter knock out Benfica to set up Milan derby semi-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MILAN, April 19 (Reuters) - Inter drew 3-3 with Benfica on Wednesday to win their Champions League quarter-final 5-3 on aggregate and will face city rivals AC Milan in the last four for the right to be the first Italian team to reach the final for six years. Inter took the lead in the 13th minute with a brilliant strike by Nicolo Barella from inside the box but Benfica equalised in the 38th minute through a towering header from Fredrik Aursnes. Inter opened up a two-goal lead after the break as Lautaro Martinez and substitute Joaquin Correa scored within seven minutes, but defender Antonio Silva and substitute Petar Musa hit back with two late goals for Benfica. It was not enough to deny Inter their first semi-final appearance since they won the trophy for the third time in 2010. Reporting by Fernando Kallas, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Debt is poor fix for Italian soccer’s malaise
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Pamela Barbaglia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Top soccer league Serie A needs cash to revamp its ailing media rights business. The division, which counts Lautaro Martínez and Paulo Dybala among its few world-class champions, made revenue of 2.5 billion euros in the 2020-2021 football season, nearly half the star-studded Premier League’s 5.5 billion euros, Deloitte data shows. Its broadcasting revenue has dropped more than 20% to about 1.1 billion euros since 2018, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters Breakingviews. Club owners would be better off entrusting independent executives to look after media rights. The Deutsche Fussball Liga, which runs Germany’s football league, is due to discuss the media rights sale at a meeting on Feb. 9.

☆ Argentina win incredible World Cup final in shootout
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Summary Argentina win World Cup for third time after 3-3 drawMessi scores two and nets in shootoutMbappe scores hat-trick as France come from 2-0 downSecond World Cup final penalties defeat for France after 2006LUSAIL, Qatar, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Argentina won their third World Cup in an extraordinary final on Sunday as they beat France 4-2 on penalties after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw that featured a hat-trick for Kylian Mbappe as the holders recovered from 2-0 down. Messi put Argentina ahead again but Mbappe levelled with another penalty, becoming the second man to score a World Cup final hat-trick after England's Geoff Hurst in 1966. Argentina have now won six of their seven World Cup shootouts, including the quarter-final against the Netherlands a week ago when they also blew a 2-0 lead, while France have lost three of five, but with two of those defeats coming in finals. It seems all the more incredible coming a month after his team began the tournament by suffering statistically the biggest upset in World Cup history when they were beaten by Saudi Arabia. He and Messi both converted the opening spot-kicks of the shootout but then had to stand back and let their team mates decide their destiny.

☆ Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties to win World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/15] Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Final - Argentina v France - Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar - December 18, 2022 Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates alongside Nicolas Otamendi, Lautaro Martinez and teammates after winning the World Cup REUTERS/Kai PfaffenbachLUSAIL, Qatar, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Argentina won the World Cup on Sunday after beating defending champions France 4-2 on penalties, following a dramatic 3-3 draw after extra time. Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez saved Kingsley Coman's penalty and Aurelien Tchouameni fired wide to give Argentina their first world title since 1986, and third overall. France had come from two goals down to level over 90 minutes with Kylian Mbappe netting twice in two minutes, including an 80th-minute penalty. The France striker completed his hat-trick in the 118th with another spot-kick after Argentina's Lionel Messi had tapped in for a 3-2 lead in the 109th. Argentina had gone 2-0 up in the first half with Messi, making a record-breaking 26th World Cup appearance, converting a 23rd-minute penalty.

Dec 16 (Reuters) - Argentina look set to keep Julian Alvarez in attack for Sunday's World Cup final against France after he scored twice in a devastating combination with Lionel Messi in the semi-final. He scored his first goal for the national side in the World Cup quarter-final against the Dutch, which Argentina won on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Leandro ParedesA defensive midfielder with Juventus, 28-year-old Paredes has featured in four of Argentina's World Cup games - infamously booting the ball at the Netherlands' bench in the quarter-final. Rodrigo De PaulThe tough 28-year-old Atletico de Madrid midfielder has been a stalwart in Scaloni's World Cup starting lineup, even playing through injury against the Dutch. The 35-year-old Paris St Germain forward is on a mission to lift his first World Cup at his fifth and final attempt and has been simply magnificent, scoring five goals while creating others with his dribbling and passing wizardry.

☆ France and Argentina bring multiple plot lines to mouthwatering World Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Standing in Messi’s way is his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappé, as France seeks to win back-to-back World Cup trophies. After a shock defeat by Saudi Arabia in its opening group game, Argentina’s World Cup campaign got off to the worst possible start. When asked whether Sunday’s game will be his last at a World Cup, Messi replied: “Yes. Like Griezmann, the 36-year-old Giroud has had a renaissance in this World Cup, after failing to score a single goal in 2018. We’ll enjoy it now and get ready for the last match of this World Cup.”

☆ A second chance: How Messi's Argentina reached the World Cup final again
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Rohith Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Messi scored a 10th minute penalty in the first half where Argentina had three goals disallowed for offside before the Saudis struck twice in the second half to stun the South American champions. If Argentina could take any solace from the result, it was that when they lost their group opener to Cameroon in 1990 they still reached the final. Substitute Enzo Fernandez scored with another sublime strike to seal the points and set Argentina on their way amid an electric atmosphere at Lusail Stadium, the biggest arena in Qatar. "Today starts another World Cup for Argentina," Messi had said after admitting they were poor in the first half. LAST 16: ARGENTINA 2-1 AUSTRALIAThe stars seemed to align for Messi in a physical last-16 clash with Australia as he scored in his 1,000th match to move past Maradona's World Cup tally.

☆ Maradona is watching us from above and pushing us, says Messi
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Hritika Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

He is pushing us and I really hope this stays the same until the end," Messi told reporters. From the beginning it was a really tough match, we knew it would be this way. Argentina will take on Croatia for a place in the final, after the 2018 runners-up beat Brazil on penalties earlier. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said despite their second-half collapse, his team had no problem finding players willing to take penalties. This team had experience, pride, young players, and this is key, because we want to fight."

☆ Analysis: Argentina fans begin to believe as Messi wills them into World Cup semis
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Philip O'Connor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The mercurial 35-year-old did all he could in the 90 minutes to set up a semi-final against Croatia, who beat Brazil on penalties earlier on Friday, but a late collective collapse almost saw him make an embarrassing World Cup exit. Having earlier watched Neymar tearfully exit the Qatar World Cup without taking a penalty for Brazil, Messi took no chances in the shoot-out and stepped up first, setting the tone for what was to come. COMPELLING PLAYERWith Neymar out and Ronaldo benched by Portugal, only France's Kylian Mbappe can rival Messi as the tournament's most compelling player. There was joy, but the overriding emotion etched on Messi's face as his team celebrated with the fans was relief. Croatia await - get past them and maybe the fans that haven't always loved him will put him up there with Diego Maradona, but nothing less than victory in the World Cup final will suffice.

☆ Argentina beat Netherlands on penalties to reach World Cup semi-finals
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Hritika Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

In a scrappy half-hour of extra time with the scores level, Enzo Fernandez rattled the post in the closing seconds while Martinez and German Pezzella also had efforts blocked or parried away as Argentina desperately pushed for a winner. The Netherlands had rarely troubled Argentina during the match before substitute Wout Weghorst's header in the 83rd minute sparked them into life and he rolled the ball past goalkeeper Emi Martinez deep into stoppage time to send the game into extra time. Argentina captain Lionel Messi had superbly set up Nahuel Molina for their first-half opener, threading a sublime pass through the Dutch defence, before coolly slotting in a penalty in the 73rd minute after Denzel Dumfries fouled Marcos Acuna. Argentina will next face Croatia, who beat Brazil on penalties earlier, on Tuesday for a place in the final. Reporting by Hritika Sharma; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Analysis: Messi carries the load to help Argentina into the quarter-finals
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | Hritika Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DOHA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Argentina reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a 2-1 win over Australia on Saturday but they were taken right down to the wire and might not want to consider what may have happened without Lionel Messi on the pitch. Messi marked his 1,000th professional game with his 789th goal - his first in a knockout match at the World Cup - and almost everything good that Argentina created going forward went through the little number 10. It was always going to be a tough game against a Socceroos team who muscled their way into the knockout stages with a brand of football that relied on each player covering huge swathes of turf and tackling anything that moved. Emiliano Martinez also had a good night and capped his fine display in the Argentina goal by stopping Garang Kuol's goalbound shot from close range with a save in the final seconds. The target is to finally add the World Cup to his already glittering collection of trophies and it would take a brave man to bet against him doing it.

☆ Messi scores in milestone match as Argentina reach World Cup quarters
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Martin Petty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored his first goal in a World Cup knockout round on his 1,000th career appearance to beat Diego Maradona's tournament tally for Argentina as they beat off a late Australia fightback to win 2-1 on Saturday and reach the quarter-finals. Messi put Argentina ahead after 35 minutes with a coolly taken strike low into the corner for his 94th international goal to pass the great Maradona's eight World Cup goals, in a match where he was instrumental in almost every Argentine attack. Lifted throughout by rapturous, overwhelmingly Argentine support that sang and bounced in unison on all sides of the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Argentina pressed and finally made the breakthrough. After Goodwin's deflected shot found the net, there was a real prospect of extra time in a stadium where the Socceroos had booked their World Cup place via a penalty shootout in an intercontinental playoff earlier this year. Argentina looked dangerous late on as they battled for a third goal, with Lautaro Martinez firing wide before substitute Garang Kuol missed with seconds left in stoppage time.

☆ Lionel Messi scores in 1000th career game as Argentina reaches World Cup quarterfinals
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Lionel Messi scored in what was the 1,000th game of his storied career as Argentina beat Australia 2-1 to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals. In the second half, Julián Álvarez capitalized on some slack goalkeeping by Australia stopper Mat Ryan to score his second goal of the tournament and extend Argentina’s lead. Those fans were soon crooning even more loudly when Messi curled a beautiful, left-footed effort past Australian keeper Ryan following a slick Argentina moved. After the break, Argentina began to turn on the style, though La Albiceleste’s second goal stemmed from hard work and pressing. With Australia pushing for a second goal, Argentina had an opportunities to catch the Socceroos on the break, with Lautaro Martínez missing numerous opportunities to seal the game.

☆ Lionel Messi has penalty saved but Argentina progresses to World Cup knockout stages with win
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Lionel Messi had a penalty saved but Argentina booked its ticket to the knockout phase of the 2022 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Poland. The opener came after Messi, Argentina’s all-time top goalscorer, had his penalty saved by Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny. Álvarez’s sublime finish midway through the second half capped off a nail-biting evening for Argentina, who will now face Australia. Poland advanced to the knockout stages by the skin of its teeth, qualifying on goal difference. While the Polish attack offered very little throughout the game, Argentina cranked up the pressure – and both Messi and left-back Marcos Acuña coming close.

☆ Messi keeps World Cup dream alive with magic strike against Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Messi goal helps Argentina beat Mexico 2-0Late Fernandez goal wraps up all three pointsMessi equals Maradona's World Cup games and goalsLUSAIL, Qatar, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi kept his dream of winning his first World Cup alive by rifling in the opening goal in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Mexico in World Cup Group C, proving he was far from done in the tournament. The Argentine, competing in his fifth World Cup at age 35, has won every other major title in his career but has failed to lift the coveted trophy despite making the final in 2014. "Today starts another World Cup for Argentina," Messi said. Apart from a Lautaro Martinez effort that was well off the mark and another from Messi, Argentina were toothless up front. The South Americans looked more determined after the break and their captain and talisman dragged them out of trouble with his second goal of the tournament.

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