Lionel Messi said it was “beautiful” to share his record breaking night with the whole of Argentina.
Messi, 35, made his 1,000th career appearance as he scored his 789th goal to overtake Diego Maradona to become Argentina’s second highest-ever goalscorer in a World Cup.
It felt like all of the 45,032 fans in the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium were there to witness greatness as Messi carried Argentina into the quarter finals and a showdown with Holland.
But Messi insisted that he can feel the support of his whole nation even though Argentina were hanging on at the end as Australia nearly pulled off an unlikely comeback.
Messi said: “These are amazing feelings, I’m so happy to share these beautiful moments.
“We enjoy every match, the fans share it with us in the stadium and back home in Argentina we know everyone is with us.
“This bond, this union, it is so special. It’s unbelievable.
“These matches are always difficult, it’s just important that you win.”
Messi now has nine goals in World Cup finals - just one behind Gabriel Batistuta - but incredibly it was his first in a knock-out match as he plays in his sixth tournament.
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But lifting the trophy has eluded him to date and it remains to be seen whether this Argentina team is good enough to carry him to glory.
Australia worked wonders just to reach the last 16 but came within a saving tackle and brilliant injury time save from Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez to stop the game going into extra time.
That would have ruined Messi’s night and you have to cherish these moments because it felt too be in the stadium was to be in the presence of greatness.
Messi’s scampering runs, his bursts of genius and incredible ability make him the star of the show every time he plays.
Of course he had to mark his landmark appearance with his 789th goal for club and country and it lifted what had been a rather flat and uninspiring contest.
it came alive after Australian defender Aziz Behich left a foot in on Messi over on the touchline and that immediately wound up the Argentina captain. Within two minutes, Argentina were ahead and there is probably a lesson there for Australia.
Papu Gomez - in for the injured Angel Di Maria - played a rather loose pass. Messi plucked it out of the sky, controlled it in an instant and looked up for his options.
Messi played it to Brighton ’s Alexis Mac Allister, whose pass found Nicolas Otamendi and his quick lay-off played it into the path of genius.
Image:
Getty Images)Messi darted onto the ball, looked up and just placed an inch perfect shot into the bottom corner to bring the whole stadium to its feet after 35 minutes. What a moment. The whole stadium stood as one.
Argentina got a second and it looked like they were cruising to victory after some shocking Australian defending.
Kye Rowles’ back pass put Mat Ryan under pressure, Argentina’s Rhodes De Paul closed down the Aussie keeper and there was Manchester City ’s Julian Alvarez to nip in and score in true poacher’s fashion.
But the Aussies hauled themselves back into the contest after 77 minutes when Craig Goodwin’s 20 yard shot took a wicked deflection off Enzo Fernandez, wrong footed Argentina keeper Martinez and flew into the far corner.
Australia then nearly pulled off a miracle when Behich, the 31-year-old Dundee United left back, raced forward, beat three players and was only stopped by a last ditch goal-saving tackles by Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.
Messi himself then missed a chance to wrap it up and you could sense the nerves as Australia pushed for an unlikely leveller.
It so nearly arrived when substitute Karang Kuol - who is set to join Newcastle - had a great chance but was denied by Aston Villa keeper Martinez.
But it would have been unthinkable for Argentina to throw it away and deny Messi his chance of glory.