The 2022 FIFA World Cup continues on Tuesday with Argentina–Saudi Arabia airing on FS1, we’ve got all the must-see moments from start to finish!
Lionel Messi made a quick impression in Argentina’s opening game of their fifth – and possibly final – World Cup, scoring from the penalty spot in the 10th minute.
Messi joins Antonio Carbajal, Lothar Matthäus and Rafael Márquez as the only players to have competed in five World Cups, and Pelé, Uwe Seeler, Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to score in four World Cups. Messi is the first Argentine to achieve both feats.
It could be a legacy-defining stint in Qatar for one of the greatest footballers of all time, as well as his long-time rival and contemporary, Portugal’s Ronaldo.
You can watch this game and every match in the tournament on the FOX Sports online family – the tournament’s official English-language broadcast partner in the US – as well as the FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com. You can also stream full match replays for free on Tubi.
Here are the best plays from Tuesday’s group stage action.
Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia
2nd minute: So close to an early goal!
It took just over 100 seconds into the 2022 World Cup for Messi to save his first shot on goal, but a one-handed save by Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Muhammad Al-Owais kept the game goalless.
10th minute: Let him introduce himself again
When Argentina were awarded a penalty after video review in the 10th minute, Messi stepped up and easily scored his first goal of the 2022 World Cup.
Lionel Messi scored a penalty kick in the 10th minute to give Argentina a 1-0 lead over Saudi Arabia.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi scores a penalty in the 10th minute after a foul by Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed Kanno.
22nd minute: Messi almost got another!
The Argentinian star looked to have a clean sweep for his second goal of the game, but was narrowly adjudged offside. The VAR verdict remained valid.
27th minute: Another close miss
Argentina were left searching for their second goal, when this result from Lautaro Martinez was also strictly offside.
35th minute: Offside AGAIN
Argentina found the net four times in the first half, but Messi’s 10th minute penalty remains the only real result as three goals were disallowed for offside.
According to OptaAnalyst, Argentina has already missed seven times in this match. The last team to have more in a World Cup game was Holland vs. Costa Rica in 2014, with 13 offside calls.
49th minute (first half in extra time): Big loss for the Saudis
Saudi Arabia captain Salman Al Faraj went down with an apparent injury just before the end of the first half. The Saudis are already under pressure thanks to Messi’s early goal, so it could be a huge blow to the underdogs’ chances of pulling off an upset.
48th minute (second half): Saudi Arabia equalizes!
Saudi Arabia’s Saleh Alshehri threads a beautiful ball in to level the scores at one goal apiece and suddenly Argentina are on their heels.
53rd minute: Saudi Arabia take the lead!
The Saudis are suddenly knocking off one of the greatest World Cups of all time after Salem Aldawsar’s laser in a 2-1 victory.
PREPLAY SCENE
Messi is coming!
The FIFA World Cup Live crew discuss Lionel Messi’s legacy
The “FIFA World Cup Live” crew discusses Lionel Messi and Argentina ahead of their match against Saudi Arabia.
Expectations are high for the Argentine, who currently has the second shortest odds of +500 (bet $10 to win a total of $60) at FOX Bet. Messi, Argentina’s long-time captain, believes those expectations are justified as he compares the 2022 squad to the 2014 World Cup squad that reached the final in Brazil.
As for Messi himself, he had perhaps his most iconic World Cup moment in his long and storied career when we last saw him in the group stage in 2018.
The Miracle of Lionel Messi: No. 101 | The most memorable moments in FIFA World Cup history
Jenny Taft starts at number 101 in the 101 most memorable moments in FIFA World Cup history. He broke Lionel Messi’s goal for Argentina against Nigeria in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Argentina gives its star some love
Argentina have plenty of talent, but Messi’s teammates know who their brightest star is.
Stay tuned for updates!
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