2022 Qatar World Cup | Messi shoulders the heavy responsibility to help Argentina advance to the quarterfinals

Argentina beat Australia 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals and Messi scored his 1,000th professional game and his 789th goal. It was his first goal in a World Cup knockout round, and almost all the good things the Argentine has created have come from this little number 10 .

Messi scored his 1,000th professional game and scored his 789th goal . It was his first goal in a World Cup knockout game and almost all the good things the Argentine has created have come from this tiny number 10 .

It's always a tough game against the Socceroos, who force their way into the knockout stages with a brand of football that relies on each player covering large swathes of turf and responding to any movement .

Argentina 's tough defense matched the Australian's physicality all evening and they will get due credit for blocking Aziz Behich 's shot after the full-back frantically sprinted across the box in the final moments.

Emiliano Martinez also had a fine night as he saved Garlandcourt's close-range shot in the final seconds to end a fine display in goal.

Going further, though, Argentina will definitely need to get more breakthroughs from midfield and wide players in the upcoming games

No Angel Di Maria to share attacking burden with Messi

Argentina slowed down the game as they did, but the rapier strikes that were supposed to follow a change of pace rarely materialized unless Messi caught the ball, and he almost always caught it with his back to goal.

Argentina's second goal was perfect as Julian Alvarez dived into Australia's goalkeeper Matt Ryan 's error, with the exception of a shot from Lautaro Martinez over the bar . hardly.

However, Messi has long been used to carrying a huge burden for his country and three goals in four games in Qatar suggest he may be approaching the dizzying form that could lead Argentina deep into the tournament.