Argentine star Lionel Messi dazzled observers during his country’s match against Paraguay in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Buenos Aires, after he jumped high to reach the ball in the air with high skill and an extraordinary ability to control the ball.
And before the end of the first half of the match, the ball reached Messi in front of the Paraguay penalty area, to fly to it acrobatically, lifting his left foot in a movement that is difficult for most football stars to master, given its need for great flexibility and high physical fitness.
It was striking that Messi’s colleagues Leandro Parades and Giovanni Le Celso showed signs of surprise and amazement at Lionel’s ability to reach the ball, which was more than two meters high.
According to the “Arab Post” site, although Messi is over 33 years old, he proved in that shot that he still maintains a high physical fitness, which may not be available in many players who are years younger than him, although he was always accused of his interest in the technical and skillful side. More than physical matters.
Unfortunately for Messi, in that match he was unable to score any goal, only to draw with his comrades with a goal to the same, noting that the video assistant referee intervened to cancel a goal that Messi netted at the beginning of the second half, due to a mistake at the start of the attack.
Paraguay player Angel Romero scored his third goal in three matches when he quietly kicked in the penalty spot midway through the first half after an intervention by Miguel Almiron on Lucas Martinez Carta.
Nicolas Gonzalez equalized for Argentina four minutes before the end of the first half with a header from a corner kick by Giovanni Le Celso.
After matching the landlord in the first half, Paraguay fell in defense for most of the second half.
On the other hand, the referee ignored Paraguay’s demands for a penalty kick after the ball touched the hand of defender Nicolas Otamendi.
The two teams maintained their unbeaten record after three of the 18 qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The winners of the first four places qualify directly for the finals, while the fifth-placed player will compete in the global play-offs.
This ball control from Messi ???? pic.twitter.com/dl5wJQDgsg
– MessiTeam (@ Lionel10Team) November 13, 2020
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