Lionel Messi has now surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo as the active player with the most Freekick Goals. Messi’s 33 minutes goal against chile marks his 57th career free-kick.
Messi's freekick is even better from this angle.pic.twitter.com/wmMDGabZOR
— B/R Goal (@br_goal) June 14, 2021
Until the match against Chile, both Messi and Ronaldo were tied on 56 freekick goals each. Messi has 50 as a Barcelona player and now seven with Argentina. While Cristiano has 13 freekicks with Manchester United, 32 with Real Madrid, and 10 with Portugal.
Four years ago in 2017, Cristiano had scored 49 free kicks while Messi just 31.
Lionel Messi’s wonderful free-kick gave Argentina a half-time lead but only stood for 12 minutes before a penalty was called on Nicolas Tagliafico. Nicolas Tagliafico was called for taking down Arturo Vidal. Emiliano Martinez denied Vidal on the penalty, but Eduardo Vargas reacted quickest and scored on the rebound.
⚽ @Argentina 🇦🇷 1 (Lionel Messi) 🆚 #Chile 🇨🇱 1 (Eduardo Vargas)
👉 ¡Final del partido en Río de Janeiro!
🔜 @Argentina jugará el próximo viernes ante #Uruguay 🇺🇾 pic.twitter.com/pWiXgH23PC
— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) June 14, 2021
“It was complicated. We were missing tranquility, controlling the ball and playing quicker. The penalty changed the match” Messi said after the match.
The result marks Argentina their third consecutive draw. Despite being undefeated in their last 14 games, Argentina has won just four of their last five. Both nations play their second group game later in the week. Argentina faces Uruguay while Chile takes on Bolivia.
