Lionel Messi: Change in Argentina match? Then there was Nigeria, almost ten years after Ecuador

With an amazing goal from a free kick o Lionel Messi gave the victory in Argentina over Ecuador (1-0) in the premiere of the World Cup qualifiers for the countries of South America.

The leader of the “albiceleste” reached 29 goals in World Cup qualifiers and caught at the top his friend, Luis Suarez, who has as many with Uruguay. Alongside, it was the 65th free-kick goal in his career and took fourth place, the performance of the president of the team to which he belongs, David Beckham.

However, the 36-year-old superstar was substituted in the 89th minute, making way for Ezekiel Palacios and the question was reasonably raised when was the last time that the Messi left with a change from an official game of the national team of Argentina.

Lionel Messi’s free kick goal ??pic.twitter.com/kDXaxzUAgs

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) September 8, 2023

To find the answer to the question we have to go back nine years and to the fight with Nigeria for the World Cup of 2014, when pulga had gone off the pitch in the 63rd minute to pass o Ricardo Alvarez. Despite all that, Mr Messi he had done his job in an impressive way, since up to that point he had scored two goals, reaching four in the group stage of the competition.



Also, the Argentine was substituted in a friendly against Nicaragua in 2019, while also in this game he managed to score two goals in the emphatic 5-1 victory.



As for the… ill-intentioned, o Messi after the game he clarified that the change did not happen due to any injury or discomfort, but due to fatigue: “I went out because I was a little tired. Probably not the last time I will go out in the last minutes of the game».

Leo Messi: “I came out because I was a bit tired. It’s probably not the last time I’m gonna come out during the last minutes of the game.” pic.twitter.com/WkRxbykCxF

— Leo Messi ?? Fan Club (@WeAreMessi) September 8, 2023