Iran Press/ Middle East: Lionel Messi marked his 1,000th professional game with his first goal in the knockout stage of a World Cup, leading Argentina into the quarterfinals with 2-1 win over Australia on Saturday.
They will play the Netherlands in the next round.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring in his 1,000th career game and Julian Alvarez added the second.
Australia pulled when back when Craig Goodwin’s shot looped in off Enzo Fernandez’s arm, but Argentina held out to progress.
As for Messi, he now has 789 goals in a career that might yet reach a crescendo on Dec. 18 by winning the soccer's biggest trophy in his fifth and likely last World Cup.
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