Key Highlights :
1. Lionel Messi scored the 800th goal of his career in a world champions Argentina victory over stubborn Panama in Buenos Aires on Thursday.
2. The 35-year-old seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s stunning free-kick in the dying minutes came after 21-year-old MLS sensation Thiago Almada gave a glimpse of what the future holds with his first goal for the national team in only his third appearance.
3. It was an emotional night as fireworks crackled overhead before kick-off at the impressive Monumental stadium where the 83,000 lucky fans that managed to get tickets among the more than 1.5 million people who tried, created an atmosphere that produced goosebumps.
4. Panama fielded a weakened side, but they were organized and disciplined and managed to frustrate the new world champions for 78 minutes before their defences were finally breached.
5. Argentina, who started the game playing champagne football, created relatively little given their 73 per cent possession in the first period. Messi struck the woodwork with a freekick while Enzo Fernandez brought a diving one-handed save out of goalkeeper Jose Carlos Guerra with a shot from distance.
6. Lionel Scaloni made three changes in the second period, and Argentina knuckled down to trying to win a football match but Guerra was twice equal to Messi’s free-kicks and also saved a low curling effort from veteran Angel Di Maria.
7. As the minutes ticked by, the tension rose with Argentina acutely aware that their party risked falling flat if they did not win. But, eventually, their main man came to the fore and ensured Panama would not be party po
Messi scores 800th career goal in Argentina's 2-0 win over Panama.
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