Harrison – Argentine Lionel Messi achieved his 100th international victory by scoring two goals from his country’s hat-trick against Jamaica during a friendly match in preparation for the World Cup in Qatar in New Jersey, bringing the “Tango” team closer to the record series for Italy without losing.
The 35-year-old French star of Paris Saint-Germain raised his score to 90 goals in 164 games, after he participated as a substitute in the second half of the match at the Red Bull Arena.
Messi’s goals have confirmed the victory of the South American team, who have played 35 games without losing, in a series dating back to 2019 since losing the Copa America final, and they are only two games away from the Italian team’s world record (37 matches between 2018 and 2022).
And Messi, who also scored two goals during a friendly victory over Honduras in Miami last Friday, delighted the fans with his amazing performance after entering in the 56th minute as a substitute for Inter Milan striker Otaro Martinez.
Albi Celeste opened the scoring in the 13th minute, when Martinez dribbled past the Jamaican defense inside the penalty area before passing the ball to Julian Alvarez, who easily shoved the ball into the net.
The Argentine, who won the Golden Ball seven times, waited to double the score four minutes before the end of the match, when he received a ball on the outskirts of the penalty area and hit it with his left hand into the net to the left of the goalkeeper (86).
And from the same place of the first goal, the “Flea” got a free kick to score his double with a beautiful low shot that deceived the defense wall and goalkeeper Andre Blake alike (89).
It is also remarkable that the legend Messi caused the meeting to be suspended 3 times, to confront the rioters who stormed the field, hoping to take a memorial photo with the Argentine star.
In the first two attempts, the security forces intervened and prevented fans, and the third time a fan almost fulfilled his wish, as Messi picked up the pen from him to sign a commemorative signature on his back before the security forces intervened to let the pen fall from Liu’s hand. (agencies)