On Tuesday night at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, Lionel Messi was limited to 34 minutes off the bench but again demonstrated why his form has Argentina firmly placed among the favorites in Qatar.
Messi scored twice — giving him nine goals in his last three international appearances — to continue his incredible start to 2022-23 (he has six goals and eight assists in 11 games for PSG).
The first was a 22-yard rip that skipped into the corner beyond a despairing Andre Blake in the 86th minute.
¡GOOOLAZO DE ARGENTINAI!
Leo Messi pone el 2-0 para la AlbicelesteNo te pierdas el Argentina vs. Jamaica en vivo por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9 pic.twitter.com/MzyoaM1bUR
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 28, 2022
In the 89th, Messi went low again — this time on a free kick central to goal and 20 yards out.
¡GOOOLAZO DE MESSI!
De tiro libre, Messi sella su doblete y la goleada AlbicelesteNo te pierdas el Argentina vs. Jamaica en vivo por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9 pic.twitter.com/Y2yjaZe2Rx
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 28, 2022
Messi delivered for his adoring fans at Red Bull Arena, but three different pitch invaders took things too far.
First, in the 64th, a guy got brought down shortly before reaching Messi. He then battled against five different security guards — briefly looking like he was actually going to turn the tide — before getting dragged away.
¡TODOS QUIEREN A MESSI!
Un aficionado corre tras Leo, pero la seguridad reacciona en el momento justo ♂️No te pierdas el Argentina vs. Jamaica en vivo por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9 pic.twitter.com/tpEat92p8g
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 28, 2022
The second guy, arriving after Messi's first goal, actually handed Argentina's captain a pen, told him to sign his back, squatted down and then got obliterated by three security guards who almost took Messi out too.
¡OTRO FAN TRAS MESSI!
Otro aficionado invadió la cancha para buscar a LeoNo te pierdas el Argentina vs. Jamaica en vivo por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9 pic.twitter.com/EEuXk16F2G
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 28, 2022
Update: Here's the second guy with an "L" on his back.
Apareció el personaje de la noche.
Messi? No.El morocho del autógrafo que no fue en la espalda.
Lionel solo llegó a escribir la "L" jaja.pic.twitter.com/rUxQIVUwFw
— Cristian (@cristianopulos) September 28, 2022
In the 92nd minute, one final guy got his shit rocked.
¿¡RÉCORD!?
Un tercer fan invade la cancha para ir tras Leo MessiNo te pierdas el Argentina vs. Jamaica en vivo por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9 pic.twitter.com/hNLb5M8IHM
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 28, 2022
They now get to enjoy a couple nights in a cell in Harrison and a lifetime ban from Red Bull Arena.
Messi is at 90 goals in 164 matches for La Albiceleste, and the team enters the World Cup on a 35 game unbeaten streak. The international record is currently held by Italy, 37, which was set between 2018 and 2021. Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland stand in the way.