Messi’s Early Goal Not Enough as Saudi Arabia Makes Remarkable Comeback
Saudi Arabia pulled off one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, defeating Argentina 2-1 in a thrilling Group C opener. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, dominated the first half, with Messi scoring a penalty in the 10th minute and Lautaro Martinez having three goals ruled out for offside.
However, the second half saw a dramatic turn as Saudi Arabia, ranked second-lowest in the tournament, launched a relentless attack. Saleh Al-Shehri scored a low shot in the 48th minute, and Salem Al-Dawsari followed with a stunning strike from outside the box just five minutes later, putting Saudi Arabia ahead. Despite dominating possession for the remainder of the match, Argentina, and Messi, were unable to recover from the shock.
This marked Saudi Arabia’s first-ever victory in a World Cup opening game, leaving Messi’s quest for the elusive trophy in jeopardy.