Lionel Messi’s start to the 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign got off with a shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in the opener on Tuesday.
Messi scored the opening goal from the penalty spot in the 10th minute
But S Al-Shehri made it 1-1 for Saudi Arabia in the 49th minute.
The winning goal came in the 53rd minute from S Al-Dawsari to make it 2-1.
Meanwhile, Argentina arrived in Qatar on a 36-match unbeaten streak, one shy of tying Italy’s record in international men’s soccer, set from 2018-21.
Argentina has not lost since falling to Brazil 2-0 in the 2019 Copa América. Argentina first won the World Cup in 1978, and then again in 1986 – one year before Messi was born.
The team reached the final in 2014 and lost to Germany, and in a bitter follow-up four years later was eliminated in the round of 16 in Russia.
Messi, meanwhile, is one of four players making their fifth World Cup appearance. He joins Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mexico teammates Guillermo Ochoa and Andrés Guardado.