Argentina were fortunate to avoid tasting defeat on Monday continuing their current unbeaten run that stretches since July as they held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw in a match that was of personal significance to Lionel Messi.
The mercurial argentine wizard ensured the headlines would be his, though, stroking home his 70th international goal from the spot after Lautaro Martinez’s flick hit Martin Caceres’ arm.
Argentina fell behind when Edinson Cavani, who scored in Uruguay’s 2-1 win over Hungary on Friday, notched his 50th international goal in the 34th minute. That lead was cancelled out when Sergio Aguero headed home a set-piece delivery from Messi, before Luis Suarez restored La Celeste’s advantage five minutes later with a superb free-kick. However, Lionel Messi rescued the albiceleste from defeat when he scored a stoppage-time penalty to secure Argentina an entertaining 2-2 draw with Uruguay in Tel Aviv on Monday.
The Barcelona superstar’s decisive late strike extended Argentina’s unbeaten run to seven games, while Uruguay – who will be bitterly disappointed to have not held on for the win – have gone six without tasting defeat.
The current FIFA men’s player of the year is however way behind his greatest rival, Cristiano, in terms of international goals scored. The Portuguese boasts of 99 goals in 164 games, the highest tally among currently active players. The argentine has 70 goals in 138 games. With his career far from over he is however likely to equal and surpass Pele’s tally of 77 goals for country soon.
