Lionel Messi Scores Goal To Lead Argentina To 1-0 Win Over Uruguay In 2018 World Cup Qualifier

Lionel Messi gave Argentina fans yet another reason to be relieved he was not yet retiring by scoring to lead his national team to a 1-0 victory over Uruguay in Thursday night’s 2018 Russia World Cup qualifying match in Mendoza, Argentina.

Lionel Messi Scores Goal To Lead Argentina To 1-0 Win Over Uruguay

Messi and the “Albiceleste” are now at the top of the South American qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup. The game marked Messi’s first match in an Argentina jersey since his national team lost the Copa America Centenario 2016 final to Chile in a penalty shootout in June, after which the superstar declared he would retire from international play due to his frustration with having lost four finals with Argentina.

The Barcelona star forward broke the deadlock with an incredible goal in the 43rd minute. Surrounded by defenders, Messi deftly controlled the ball, even flicking it with his heel at one point, and fired a low shot from just outside the box that deflected off Jose Maria Gimenez and wrong-footed goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to reach the back of the net. The crowd roared as Messi’s teammates hugged him.

The goal bumped the 29-year-old Ballon D’Or winner’s as Argentina’s top scorer to 56 in his 114th international appearance. The score also proved to be the perfect insurance for Argentina, who were forced to play with 10 men after Paulo Dybala was sent off just before half-time after a tackle on Mathia Corujo that left the Uruguay defender on the ground for several moments.

Messi and the rest of the Argentine squad desperately attempted to lobby for Dybala, a 22-year-old Juventus forward, by arguing with the referee, but the official showed no mercy and issued Dybala a red card as the youngster left the field in tears, covering his face with his jersey.

Uruguay, meanwhile, hardly seemed to trouble Argentina goalie Sergio Romero at all, even in the second half.

With the Albiceleste holding onto the 1-0 lead late in the game, some fans just clearly couldn’t stop themselves from showing Messi some love. One fan ran onto the field and hugged the Barcelona man, after which security quickly dragged the spectator off.

This isn’t the first time Messi has received love from overeager fans who have been punished for it. One man recently jumped down from the stands into the players’ tunnel after a Barcelona game and also surprised the Argentine by hugging him, although he was tackled more violently than Thursday’s fan.

“I wanted to be here after all the confusion I’d caused by first saying I wasn’t coming and then that I was,” Messi told reporters regarding his recent announcement that he would retire from the Argentina national team. “From the moment I said that, the fans showed me a lot of affection and I’m really grateful, I couldn’t not come back.”

Argentina now lead the 10-country group with 14 points from seven games, one point more than Uruguay, Colombia and Ecuador in the four qualification spots.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JUNE 26: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina looks on against Chile during the Copa America Centenario Championship match at MetLife Stadium on June 26, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Chile defeated Argentina 4-2 in penalty kicks. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)