The 83,000 screaming fans were not disappointed at Lionel Messi and his Argentina team’s first international match since winning the World Cup last December.
Messi’s Argentina beat Panama 2-0 with two late goals at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires on Thursday night, the first of two matches for the team celebrating their win in Qatar.
Thiago Almada opened the scoring in the 78th minute, heading the ball into an empty net after Messi’s free kick hit the post. Eleven minutes later, the Argentine great netted a second free kick to the delight of the capacity crowd.
“I always dreamed of this moment, celebrating with you,” said an emotional Messi, standing with his family on the pitch after the match. He raised the World Cup trophy once again in front of his fans and did a slow victory lap with his teammates, who were carrying miniatures of the same trophy, as fireworks erupted over the stadium.
This was Messi’s 800th goal in his professional career. If he scores another goal in Argentina’s next friendly against Curacao on Tuesday, he will reach 100 goals for the national team.
The entire Argentina team attended the match in Qatar. Messi and others brought their families to the stadium. Coach Lionel Scaloni was most emotional; He was in tears before and after the match.
The match ends a weekend in which Messi, 35, has been widely celebrated as a hero after helping Argentina win its third World Cup title, a marked change from years when some fans booed him. Was accused of indifference with the national team.