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Lionel Messi Scores 800th Career Goal As Argentina Beat Panama In First Game Since Winning World Cup

Lionel Messi scored the 800th goal of his career as Argentina beat Panama in Buenos Aires on Thursday. Messi scored direct from a free-kick in a 2-0 win.

Robert Summerscales

Lionel Messi Scores 800th Career Goal As Argentina Beat Panama In First Game Since Winning World Cup
Lionel Messi Scores 800th Career Goal As Argentina Beat Panama In First Game Since Winning World Cup /

Lionel Messi scored the 800th goal of his career as Argentina beat Panama in Buenos Aires on Thursday.

Messi found the net direct from a free-kick in the 89th minute to seal a 2-0 victory.

That was Messi's 99th international career goal. He has scored 701 at club level.

Argentina's first goal of the night also came from a Messi free-kick, albeit not directly.

Thiago Almada scored his first ever international goal when he gobbled up the rebound after Messi had hit the crossbar for the second time in the game.

Argentina started against Panama with the same XI that had begun the World Cup final.

More than 80,000 fans packed into River Plate's Estadio Monumental to welcome their heroes home, 95 days after they conquered world soccer at Qatar 2022.

Those fans had to wait until the 78th minute to see a goal, which arrived from Argentina's 22nd shot of the game.

Argentina ended the match having registered 26 shots to Panama's two.

The game was followed by a trophy ceremony as Argentina's players lifted the World Cup in front of their home supporters.

Next up for Messi and Co will be another home friendly on Tuesday when Curacao visit Santiago del Estero.

Lionel Messi pictured taking a free-kick for Argentina during their 2-0 win over Panama in March 2023
Lionel Messi scored direct from a free-kick to seal a 2-0 win for Argentina against Panama in Buenos Aires :: IMAGO/Photogamma/Javier Garcia Martino
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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.