Saudi Arabia overwhelm Messi and Argentina in World Cup

Saudi Arabia thrashed Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1 on Tuesday in one of the biggest World Cup upsets ever.

Memories of Cameroon’s 1-0 win over Diego Maradona’s Argentine team in the 1990 World Cup opener came flooding back.

Goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari in the 5th minute gave the Saudis the win. Argentina took an early lead with Messi’s 10th-minute penalty.

Argentina’s defeat was followed by other World Cup upsets, including Senegal’s 1-0 win over title-holders France in the opening game of the 2002 tournament and the United States’ defeat of England by the same score in 1950. Comparable to

Undefeated streak ends

Argentina’s 36-game unbeaten streak came to an end with Messi’s fifth, and possibly last, World Cup at Lusail Stadium.

After the final whistle blew, the Paris Saint-Germain star shook hands with the Saudi coaching staff and stood near the center circle with his hands on his hips. Win the highest prize money in soccer.

An unlikely victory was sealed by a somersault by Aldawsari. Aldawsari dropped his ball high just inside his area for a penalty, flipping over one defender, dodging another of his and goalkeeper Emi with a powerful shot past his Martinez. I hit He scored in the 53rd minute.

Messi was stunned to see a large crowd of green-clad fans from Qatar’s neighbor Saudi Arabia celebrating in the stands in disbelief. Saudi Arabian substitutes stormed the field.

Messi led Argentina from the penalty spot after video assistant referees told the referees to watch Saud Abdul Hamid grab the jersey for Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes.

Saudi Arabia’s first shot went on goal as Saleh Alshehri slipped past defender Cristian Romero’s foot into the bottom corner.