Football star Lionel Messi scores his 800th career goal for club and country with an outstanding kick in Argentina’s first game since becoming world champions. Messi and Co welcomed their fans to a mesmerizing opening as the team hit the pitch for their first match since their emphatic triumph in Qatar.
Messi curled home an incredible 99th Internation goal from a free-kick in the 89th minute sending the 83,000 fans at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires into raptures. The kick doubled his country’s lead following Thiago Almada’s opener. The superstar whipped the ball over the Panama wall and into the top right corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance from around 25 yards out.
“I want to thank you all for the love and recognition that you have been receiving, not only after the World Cup but also for the Copa America,” Messi told the crowd after the match. “We said that we were going to give it all for this trophy.”
The Argentine superstar came into the game needing just one goal to reach the milestone after scoring his 799th goal in PSG’s Ligue 1 win over Nantes on Saturday. The win over Panama came in Argentina’s first match since beating France in Qatar last December.
According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), Messi is just the second man ever to reach the 800 career-goal landmark, after Cristiano Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, there is some news for the football heartthrob. Reports hint the PSG superstar has been reportedly offered a jaw-dropping offer to rejoin his old team Barcelona. According to a source, the LaLiga Giant have made an offer of 200 million Euros to bring the Argentine back after his victory at the World Cup in Qatar.
It is worth noting that the LaLiga leaders have made such a mssive offer despite their well known financial struggles.
It remains to see where Messi’ future lies given reports of offers from MLS side Inter Miami and multiplr Saudi Arabian clubs.