Lionel Messi
's 2024
had started negatively, with a draw and a defeat in friendlies with Inter Miami.
But this Monday, in Saudi Arabia,
La Pulga was able to score his first goal of the year
, scoring a penalty kick to start the partial comeback against
Al Hilal
, in the Riyadh Season Cup.
MESSIIIIII 🎯
Clinical from the spot.
Leo gets his first goal of 2024. pic.twitter.com/ifVwWl0d6W
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 29, 2024
Messi's first half had not been good, but the attitude of the entire team changed in the second half.
It was the American David Ruiz who got into the area and forced the untimely arrival of Mohammed Jahfali, who after the VAR check, caused the sanction of the Brazilian referee Edina Alves Batista.
Thus, at 53 minutes, the Argentine did not fail from a place where he does not usually fail.
He chose a high cross shot that hit goalkeeper Habib Al-Watyan in the left corner.
So, among the three friendlies he has played this preseason, Lionel Messi needed 161 minutes on the field of play to score his first goal.
NEWS IN DEVELOPMENT...