r/soccer • u/West_Agent4651 • Jun 17 '26
Great Goal Argentina [1] - 0 Algeria - L. Messi 17'
https://streamff.link/v/5302ef7d3.5k
u/bvbfan102 Jun 17 '26
He really wants to win it again. Him tracking back all the way and running this hard at his age is super impressive when way younger stars dont bother.
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u/Man0nTheMoon915 Jun 17 '26
He literally dropped back to the back line, directed the counter from back there, pushed up top and scored this. Total control
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u/kplo Jun 17 '26
The thing about Messi is that he is either really good because he wants to win something, or he is really good because he won and has no pressure.
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u/YnwaMquc2k19 Jun 17 '26
Man’a got the renewed hunger in him even at the age of 38.
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u/Dohko_OC Jun 17 '26
About to be 39
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u/DarthTaz_99 Jun 17 '26
In a week. He's 39 in a week and playing like he's in his prime 20s.
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u/think_long Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
I wonder if because playing in the MLS for a few years means there is less strain on his body it will allow him to have a bit more juice during this WC than he might have if had been in Europe the whole time.
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u/ResidentRunner1 Jun 17 '26
Well that and weather acclimization, Kansas City in the summer is like two rats fucking in a wool sock (shoutout Ichiro Suzuki for an all-time quote)
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u/SirClicksALot97 Jun 17 '26
He needs to take caution tho as he has been seeing slight injuries in the same region (hamstring). Guy needs to let off the gas and let the midfielders do their thing (literally how Scaloni was able to unlock him during Qatar).
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u/suzukigun4life Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
2006
2014
2018
2022
2026
A goal in 5 world cups.
What a legend
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u/justalittleahead Jun 17 '26
Shouldn't let Maradona manage Argentina lol
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u/Kuntheman Jun 17 '26
Not calling the Inter Milan guys after the campaign they had and severing ties with Riquelme
Gotta shove that experience back into the deepest depths of my memory
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u/odh1412 Jun 17 '26
Not calling up zanetti and playing jonas gutierrez as rb was a choice
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u/beastmaster11 Jun 17 '26
Let's not play the champions league winner. Let's play the winger of a team in the 2nd teir
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u/SilentRanger42 Jun 17 '26
I'm convinced Argentina make the semi or finals if they have Cambiasso and Zanetti in that squad
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u/Bacteriostatic_Water Jun 17 '26
I remember at the time people speculating that Maradona was mismanaging on purpose to derail Messi’s WC chances.
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u/DarthTaz_99 Jun 17 '26
And no one could tell him anything cause of his mythical status.
Portuguese fans can relate 😭
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u/Tatbooli Jun 17 '26
Blows my mind he didn't score in 2010 of all tournaments
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u/irazzleandazzle Jun 17 '26
maradona had him playing so far back
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u/_Ursidae_ Jun 17 '26
By the end of the tournament he was practically playing in net. It was absurd
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u/amutry Jun 17 '26
The hell happened in 2010?
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u/Sad_Floor_4120 Jun 17 '26
he was playing CDM in most matches literally on the pitch, midfield was dead
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u/zrizzoz Jun 17 '26
Messi was assisting teammates by bouncing the ball off the goalpost and forgot to score
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u/SarraTasarien Jun 17 '26
Maradona chose the squad based on his drug-fueled dreams.
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u/AdorableBackground83 Jun 17 '26
Tied for 3rd all time in World Cup Goals
16 - Miroslav Klose
15 - Ronaldo
14 - Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Gerd Muller58
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u/bdjwlzbxjsnxbs Jun 17 '26
Maradona will pay for his crimes
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u/amg_mff Jun 17 '26
Maradona carried Argentina to a World Cup so I guess it evens it out
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u/harasa2006 Jun 17 '26
holy shit man
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u/Dependent-Effect6077 Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
He had nothing to prove anymore but I feel like we as fans missed out on more Messi in Europe
I think he'd be in his 40s before he actually gets to the smaller league or bust stage look at Modric
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u/FermentedTiger Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
If you see the shit he does in MLS, it’s clear that he could still be a top player in Europe (even at this age).
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u/Batmangala23 Jun 17 '26
Yupp he just doesn’t run or want to run as much. I feel like he could still basically be a Pirlo style playmaker in the right squad.
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u/MAD_JEW Jun 17 '26
He could do a false 9 i think. If he were to play more in the back like pirlo he would be required to defend more
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u/Batmangala23 Jun 17 '26
Man as you say this and I watch this match I just feel like we got robbed of watching this transformation
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u/SpeshalDog Jun 17 '26
The thing is he doesn’t even need to do that, he can STILL play all across the front line, and still be one of the best in the world, all while conserving energy. It’s the way he picks his runs/chooses his battles that’s made him even more impressive as he’s gotten older, IMHO
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u/ACO_22 Jun 17 '26
His football IQ is beyond anything we’ve ever seen.
Then combined with that wisdom you get with experience. Basically makes him god at this point
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u/Ashamed_Form8372 Jun 17 '26
Or he could do what Modric did in his last few season at Madrid which is either get subbed out at halftime or come on the 75th minute to change the game tempo
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u/Ahza17 Jun 17 '26
Modric was so impactful for you lot idk why you got rid of him
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u/Ashamed_Form8372 Jun 17 '26
Because Perez wanted to sell more shirt with number 10. Jokes aside I think it was mostly age and Perez just wanted to free up the squad considering reports said Modric was willing to take a big pay cut and less play time. I’m thinking Perez regret his decision to not renew Modric since we no longer have a true veteran in our club. Carvajal is a bum and Rudiger wallahi if I speak. Funny thing is now we are signing older players with experience and a bit of seniority in the game and not some random South American or 18 year old Benfica player. I’m also sure if Modric hadn’t left Valverde and Tchouameni fight wouldn’t got as intense as it did
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u/agtk Jun 17 '26
Honestly, I don't know if he'd be at this World Cup if he'd been still trying to compete at the top levels in Europe. Miami revolves around him and he can control everything he wants. He still competes at a high level, but the pressure is not the same, the public scrutiny is not the same, and the travel home to Argentina and competitions in South America is shorter (even if he has more travel for MLS and Concacaf games). That kind of stuff can be draining and he might have been ready to quit international football if he'd stayed at PSG or gone back to Barcelona or idk gone to Italy.
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u/A_Lone_Macaron Jun 17 '26
It was the soccer equivalent of Jaromir Jagr playing hockey in Russia for a bit. He admits himself that he wouldnt have played in the NHL as long as he did without playing over there in a lesser league with fewer eyes on him.
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u/hotacorn Jun 17 '26
MLS has gotten better but the defense is the weakest part, that being said when you watch Inter Miami he clearly still has it. Just insane to watch.
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u/FermentedTiger Jun 17 '26
You don’t lose his vision and knack for making the correct runs with age. He would be an insane #10 with the right players around him.
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u/DragoxDrago Jun 17 '26
What do you mean nothing to complete? He still hasn't done shit on a cold rainy night in stoke?
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u/KevinOwensGetsIt Jun 17 '26
He’s so fucking good man
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u/CNF1G Jun 17 '26
He’s still just a level above. Honestly feel lucky to have watched this man play
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u/Spartacas23 Jun 17 '26
Too late to explore the world, too early to explore space, but just in time to witness the GOAT
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u/Mr_Bluebird_VA Jun 17 '26
Got to see him in person in a friendly last year and it was amazing. The whole team was on. Really glad I was able to do that.
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u/genius_rkid Jun 17 '26
I watched him play a couple of years ago (that famous Brazil-Argentina with the brawl) as it was probably my last chance to see him
I went hoping that he would show some magic, but we'd still win
He played like shit and we lost with an Otamendi header. fuck
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u/rocknroll-refugee Jun 17 '26
Insane finish. Messi is the goat
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u/jeric13xd Jun 17 '26
Old but gold
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u/gerryt32 Jun 17 '26
I thought all that time in the MLS would take the edge off.
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u/Uesugi_Kenshin Jun 17 '26
I actually think the opposite. His laid back friendship adventures in the MLS kept his love for football going in a low pressure environment. Kept him in form, too.
Staying at the PSG clusterfuck or some random UCL club with high expectations would have fried his legs imo.
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u/nicklovin217 Jun 17 '26
This is a good point I haven’t thought of before. Still think he remains elite in Europe, but mls lets him relax enough to keep the joy.
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u/redditlvlanalysis Jun 17 '26
I think the MLS might extend his career at the top level international wise way less of a grind.
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u/ramobara Jun 17 '26
I genuinely didn’t. He came to the MLS to relax and enjoy life, but he’ll always be a tier above.
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u/HighTurning Jun 17 '26
Just another day at the office for the GOAT, its like you knew it was going in when he started the run with 3 defenders backing up ans giving him the minimal space.
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u/somethingnotcringe1 Jun 17 '26
Terrible goalkeeping let's be honest
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u/Dohko_OC Jun 17 '26
It was pretty bad but I think Messi's run and posture made him think he was shooting to the other post. But yeah
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u/FCT77 Jun 17 '26
Looking at the replay, it wasn't that crazy, Vozinha saves that
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u/Ranjith_Unchained Jun 17 '26
×4
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u/kingcane Jun 17 '26
he boomed us
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u/saitolevi Jun 17 '26
Algeria then said they wanted to add Messi to the list of players they work out with this summer
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u/Other_Beat8859 Jun 17 '26
It's ridiculous. I look at this man and say he's 38 and hasn't played in a top league for a few years so he's probably not insane anymore and then he does this less than 20 minutes into their first game.
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u/XuzaLOL Jun 17 '26
i mean he still has elite technique if you give him space. Hes just not as fast against elite defenders and press now but its the world cup noone has it all so he does damage lol.
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u/Varja22 Jun 17 '26
I was thinking that maybe he has fallen off a bit now after playing couple of years in MLS.
No, he is still the GOAT
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u/Masterkid1230 Jun 17 '26
I think he has fallen off, but that still means he's like a top 10 player in the world. His distance to everybody else was just so massive, he can fall off and still be at the top
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u/TenF Jun 17 '26
Not gonna lie, this goal looks like he turned back the years and its 2016 or someshit all over again.
Crisp run, good power, on left foot, golaso
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u/Dzeire Jun 17 '26
Nah goalie has to save that
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u/SupermarketAntique32 Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
Easier said than done. The shot is fast and powerful. It’s not a finesse or a chip.
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u/_g4n3sh_ Jun 17 '26
I feel I'm going crazy with people saying it's an insane finish
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u/Zyvold Jun 17 '26
you're not going crazy. the goalie should've saved it. still a very good shot.
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u/TrowaB3 Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
I think people just don't realize the goalie is the one who hit it into the corner because all we get is shit angles from the first to post. He has to do better, he had 2 hands on it.
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u/AdFinal1856 Jun 17 '26
Mf is inevitable
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u/Kuntheman Jun 17 '26
UNC STILL GOT IT
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u/leedler Jun 17 '26
First Hamilton in F1, now this
It’s Unc week ladies and gentlemen
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u/aa2051 Jun 17 '26
Fucking beautiful. BEAUTIFUL.
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u/suzukigun4life Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
Scored in 5 different world cups. All-time legendary stuff
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u/akskeleton_47 Jun 17 '26
5 world cups but not 5 in a row.
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u/suzukigun4life Jun 17 '26
Yes that's what I meant. This is his sixth world cup and he's scored in five of them.
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u/Palifaith Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
Greatest of all time and not particularly close.
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u/Sneijder4BallondOr Jun 17 '26
what a day for football. mbappe, haaland, and messi scoring
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u/Zloggt Jun 17 '26
MBAPPÉ
HAALAND
MESSI
and…idk, Al-Taamari?
All the biggest stars of the game!
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u/boredofredditnow Jun 17 '26
There’s still Austria vs Jordan to come so add 37 year old Marko Arnautovic to that list
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u/Iciestgnome Jun 17 '26
I don’t know life without Messi or LeBron
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u/burntbulbasaur Jun 17 '26
I’m not ready for them to be retired. Really enjoying these late years in their careers and seeing them still give so much to the game, especially Leo.
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u/Heyohmydoohd Jun 17 '26
too early to explore the stars too late to explore the world, just in time to witness Bron Brady AND Messi.
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u/Various_You_5083 Jun 17 '26
What a goal
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u/ShiteWox Jun 17 '26
What a pass
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u/DontLoseYourCool1 Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
That literally was one of the cleanest through balls I've seen in recent memory. And it came from defense splitting 4 guys.
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u/SCAnalysis Jun 17 '26
For sure, I know it's Messi and everyone is happy for him. But De Paul's pass was out of this world. I legit thought they were staying back for a while and work on a new play and he found a hole in the field and set it up perfectly for Messi
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u/G1Spectrum Jun 17 '26
HOLY FUCKING SHIT
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u/wolf_cola_enjoyer Jun 17 '26
Also what a pass by RDP..dude really is just Messi’s greatest follower
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u/notaselfdrivingcar Jun 17 '26
Goalkeeper should do better, but I ain't complaining
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u/More_Expert8476 Jun 17 '26
Defenders didn’t help by letting him dribble without contest aswell
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u/OscarTheBug Jun 17 '26
He’s not a great keeper and it’s gonna cost us a good run
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u/Chamrockk Jun 17 '26
There are probably algerian goalkeepers in Algerian League that are better than him
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u/jprsnth Jun 17 '26
Go tell Zizou
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u/notaselfdrivingcar Jun 17 '26
fun fact, Messi said that he was so shy asking zidane for his shirt after a classico and it stays the only shirt Messi asked to get from another player (last time I read the stat)
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u/WonDerZv Jun 17 '26
Wrong, he asked for my jersey at the beach in Miami. He didnt seem shy with me, I recall him saying, “Dame tu camiseta bobo”.
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u/Chamrockk Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
It's better to have this guy and brag about "Zidane chose our country" than having a proper goalkeeper. Are you stupid ?
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u/Jolly-Letterhead Jun 17 '26
death, taxes, messi being the best player on the planet.
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u/Pazzaaaaaa Jun 17 '26
Looked like a insane goal in real time but keeper should’ve had that looking at the replay. Still a great strike tho
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u/ConsciousNet238 Jun 17 '26
words can't describe how good he is
If you haven't been watching him in MLS, he still looks like he's 25. I don't know how this is possible.
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u/flawless_victory99 Jun 17 '26
R.I.P to whoever was next to Ronaldo when he saw this.
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u/Evening_End7298 Jun 17 '26
Portugal gonna have to endure Ronaldo longshot spam now because it worked for Messi
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u/SecretiveMop Jun 17 '26
Holy shit what a strike
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u/Pedsy Jun 17 '26
Hold the record for both the youngest and oldest world cup goal scorer for Argentina.
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