“Against Colombia in a tense 0–0 World Cup qualifier, Messi darts across the top of the box and, without breaking stride, whips a left-footed shot across the keeper from a narrow angle to break the deadlock, marking his second goal in World Cup qualifying.”
In a tense early step of Argentina’s turbulent 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, 20-year-old Messi opens the scoring against Colombia, briefly putting an inconsistent Albiceleste on track and underlining how quickly he is becoming the side’s attacking reference point in high-pressure CONMEBOL trips.
Against Peru in a Copa América quarter-final, Messi darts across the box from Riquelme’s pass and, with his body almost facing away from goal, hooks a left-foot finish back across the keeper to double Argentina’s lead and open his Copa América account.
With Porto’s keeper rushing out after a defensive mix-up, Messi calmly drags the ball around him and finishes from a tight central angle to break the deadlock in the Super Cup final, sealing his first goal in this competition and career strike number 201.
Breaking the deadlock in a high‑stakes World Cup qualifier against Paraguay, Messi calmly wrong-foots the keeper from the spot to launch Argentina’s rout and quietly move to career goal 354 and his 13th in World Cup qualifying.
Against Paraguay in a crucial World Cup qualifier, Messi whips a left‑footed free kick over the wall and into the corner to stretch Argentina’s lead to 3–1, capping a hot scoring streak and taking him to 287 career goals.