Few left feet in the history of the game have been as magical as Lionel Messi’s. But the Messi goal vs Uruguay on Sunday night was something uniquely supernatural. It was as if the Argentine put some sort of forcefield around the ball as he sent it toward goal.
Messi’s strike in the 38th minute sent Argentina on its way to a 3-0 win over Uruguay in World Cup qualifying, maintaining a comfortable second place in the CONMEBOL table behind Brazil. La Celeste barely remain in the top four guaranteed World Cup positions with seven matches left to play.
Brazil held, Argentina impress and bottom sides revive in @CONMEBOL #WorldCup qualifying
Bolivia 1-0 Peru
Venezuela 2-1 Ecuador
Colombia 0-0 Brazil
Argentina 3-0 Uruguay
Chile 2-0 Paraguay pic.twitter.com/xhX3dNfgZl— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 11, 2021
Early in the match, Argentina’s Emi Martínez was the busier of the two keepers. He denied Luis Suárez on multiple occasions, including this incredible save to keep the match scoreless.
What a save by @emimartinezz1 against @LuisSuarez9!!!!! #ARGvsURU #CONMEBOL #WCQ pic.twitter.com/jRBn2jWQMe
— fubo Sports (@fuboSports) October 10, 2021
After Giovani Lo Celso somehow missed off the underside of the crossbar after beating the keeper, the match turned on Messi’s magical goal.
Lionel Messi Goal vs Uruguay
From about 30 yards out, Messi lobbed a ball into the box toward Nicolás González. Somehow, neither González, defender Nahitan Nández nor keeper Fernando Muslera got a touch on the ball and Messi was credited with the goal.
The Messi Touch What a goal! @Argentina takes the lead 1-0 #ARGvsURU #CONMEBOL #WCQ pic.twitter.com/Z9sTsZUAHT
— fubo Sports (@fuboSports) October 11, 2021
If I’m being honest, I think González may have gotten a slight flick on the ball. At the very least, he threw Muslera off. Either way, it was less contact than Gyasi Zardes appeared to get on Panama’s goal on Sunday night against the U.S., though that was credited to Aníbal Godoy instead of an own goal.
The Messi goal vs Uruguay gave him 80 for Argentina and opened the floodgates for La Albiceleste, with Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martínez finding the back of the net.
Once a nearly impenetrable defense, Uruguay has now conceded 13 goals in 11 qualifiers, including four in a defeat to Ecuador last year.
Here are the full Argentina-Uruguay highlights.
