“Against the Copa América champions Chile in a tense World Cup qualifier, Messi calmly sends the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot to break the deadlock and keep Argentina’s fragile campaign on track, recording career goal 552 and his 18th in World Cup qualifiers.”
On a nervy night in Argentina’s turbulent 2018 qualifying campaign, Messi’s calmly struck penalty extends his hot scoring streak and delivers the lone goal against back‑to‑back Copa América champions Chile, keeping his country’s World Cup hopes on track.
In Argentina’s first World Cup qualifier on the road to Qatar, Messi breaks the deadlock against Ecuador with a calm, low penalty into the corner, asserting control of a tense campaign opener and logging career goal 706 and his 22nd in World Cup qualifiers.
Against Milan in a tense quarter-final deadlock, Messi calmly sends the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot to restore Barça’s lead before halftime and bring up his 51st Champions League goal.
At 2–2 against RB Leipzig with PSG’s Champions League momentum on the line, Messi calmly waits for the keeper to move before rolling in the retaken lead from the spot, sealing his brace and reaching career goal 755 and UCL goal 123.
With Barcelona pegged back at 1–1 against Lyon, Messi calmly sends the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot to restore the lead in a key Champions League group clash, adding his sixth goal in the competition and 46th of his career.