Lionel Messi, the Argentinian football star, set a personal record on Thursday when he scored his fastest ever goal. Just 79 seconds into Argentina's friendly match against Australia in Beijing, Messi curled the ball home with a stunning left-footed strike from the edge of the box. This was an exquisite performance, and according to South American governing body CONMEBOL, it was the quickest goal Messi had ever scored in his professional career.
Interestingly, Messi has scored in every minute of a football game, except for the opening minute. The sports data group Gracenote highlights that Messi has scored the largest number of goals (16) in the 87th minute of games.
Despite having played some of the greatest games in football history, Messi continues to wow fans and pundits alike with his incredible skills. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez praised Messi's remarkable performance and noted that "Messi has given us everything as a footballer; it's a pleasure to see him play. He's on another level."
Argentina won the game 2-0, with Real Betis defender German Pezzella scoring the second goal in the second half. Messi's excellent form for the Argentina national team continues, even as he struggled with his club team, Paris Saint-Germain, last season.
During the match in Beijing, thousands of fans filled the Workers' Stadium, eager to catch a glimpse of Messi, who last visited China in 2017 with his former club Barcelona. Videos on social media showed a fan evading security personnel to hug Messi during the game.
Messi is a global icon, and his arrival in Beijing caused a stir both on social media and in reality. The superstar received a rapturous welcome from fans, with hundreds of supporters swarming the team's hotel entrance in the hope of catching a glimpse of their idol. Messi's seven Balon d'Or awards make him the most decorated player in history, and his forthcoming switch to the Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami has sent ticket prices soaring in the United States, with some games rising by almost 1,000%.
Looking ahead, Argentina will travel to Jakarta for a friendly game against Indonesia on June 19. Messi remains committed to football and continues to inspire people globally with his magic on the field. As he noted after the game, "we have to think about what's coming, a new cycle is beginning. This continues, we can't just sit back on what has already happened. We need to enjoy every reunion."