Argentina survived a grim situation and qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2018 with a 3-1 win over Ecuador, thanks to a hattrick from Lionel Messi.
Fans in Argentina and all around the world were scared of the prospect of a World Cup without Lionel Messi. Needing a win against Ecuador, the game started on a grim note for the visitors, with the home side taking a 1-0 lead in the first minute of the game.
With the World Cup hopes hanging in the balance, it was time for Lionel Messi to step up and be the hero. And the Barcelona man did just that. Not only did he net the equalizer for Argentina, but the global superstar scored a hattrick on the night to catapult his side to third place in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, thus securing a place in the World Cup group stage.
Fans ran out of superlatives for the performance, with Lionel Messi the name on everyone’s lips and social media accounts after the heroic display.
Lionel Messi:
✅ Must-Win Match
✅ Whole Nation On His Shoulders
✅ 1-0 Down After 40 Secs
✅ Score A Hattrick
✅ Argentina Qualify WCGOAT ? pic.twitter.com/B8BHgXwHwm
— SPORF (@Sporf) October 11, 2017
Lionel Messi is putting Argentina on his back when they need him most. pic.twitter.com/h7X3cxvMvK
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 11, 2017
Lionel Messi out there doing his hero thing for ?? pic.twitter.com/BdpBVoTOqY
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 10, 2017
Lionel Messi is dragging Argentina toward the World Cup. ✈️ pic.twitter.com/HFsYaylNMd
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 11, 2017
SUMMARY: Lionel Messi and Argentina. ??? pic.twitter.com/21wblphbjD
— SPORF (@Sporf) October 11, 2017
Lionel Messi just single-handedly sent Argentina to the World Cup with a hat-trick.
Legendary. pic.twitter.com/4EkNU2BOP0
— Goal (@goal) October 11, 2017
Lionel Messi Appreciation Tweet. The best player to ever kick a ball, the greatest player of all time. LEGEND, GOAT ? #Messi pic.twitter.com/ZvOFImCTFl
— Mazi Olisaemeka ™ (@OlisaOsega) October 11, 2017
Lionel Messi Remains The Biggest GOAT. Argentina will forever be grateful. I’m happy to see all these stuffs happen. Best Era
— Iyá Làjé Of Lagos (@newscantell) October 11, 2017
Lionel Messi is 30 years old which is crazy because the average life expectancy of a goat ? is 15-18 years old ? pic.twitter.com/JmSutpSVgp
— Footy Jokes (@Footy_Jokes) October 11, 2017
1 year since someone other than Lionel Messi scored for Argentina. He’s now single-handedly taking them to the World Cup.
GOAT pic.twitter.com/gUMwk7hUTK
— Premier League Panel (@PremLeaguePanel) October 10, 2017
Lionel Messi is carrying an entire damn country on his back
— Ryan Rosenblatt (@RyanRosenblatt) October 10, 2017
This is how Legends are made..
Only one
LIONEL MESSI.. ??
YASS Argentina yassspic.twitter.com/nd2rqaHDHn
— ❤Sangi❤ (@I_am_sangi3) October 10, 2017
Congratulations! Team Messi send #Argentina into the World Cup!! ??? pic.twitter.com/ajZeBhifbP
— Football Stuff (@FootbalIStuff) October 11, 2017
These tweets, though, embodied the importance of Messi in the Argentine national team.
In Argentina’s final 8 qualifiers, they only had 2 goal scorers:
Messi
Own goal.— Tim Stillman (@Stillberto) October 11, 2017
Most goals with Argentina
Most assists with Argentina
Top scorer in COMNEBOL Qualifiers
Most assists in CA history
International failure?— Sir AndreW ♛ (@Barcaificent) October 11, 2017
