They doubted and criticized him, now he’s Messi’s right-hand man in Qatar

Argentina's first goal came from Lionel Messi against Australia in their World Cup round of 16 match and the team will face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.As he led his team out in Qatar for the third straight game, Messi scored his third goal of the World Cup. The attacker's goal came in his 1000th game of his career.Not only was it significant because he scored in his historic game, but it was also remarkable since it was his first-ever World Cup knockout goal.

In the course of a career spanning 1000 games, the Argentine scored his 789th goal. Additionally, with his goal on Saturday, he surpassed Maradona's record of eight World Cup goals and moved one goal closer to Gabriel Batistuta's record of ten World Cup goals for Argentina. Messi acknowledged before the World Cup that it might be his final.

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On Saturday night, everyone had their eyes on the magician, even though Messi's running partner and supply line was a player who was not expected at this competition, but has helped the team rediscover their memory of how to play after that shaky start aginst Saudi Arabia. His performed brilliantly against  the Socceroos.

When Messi scores from the angle he did, it is mesmerizing, but it was this Mess's new right-hand man, who had to put in extra effort at the back of the defense. When Nicolas Otamendi stopped the player's 15-yard vertical ball from going through a gap on the right side of the penalty area, Messi was able to scoop it up and arc a goal that broke the tension that had been building.

The Argentine that seems on a string with Messi

It was not even anticipated that Alexis Mac Allister would take part in this journey. He most likely would not have advanced if FIFA had not increased the maximum roster numbers for this World Cup from 23 to 26. But when he did, Villarreal's Giovanni Lo Celso's injury created another opening, which Mac Allister has taken advantage of.