Lionel Messi scored Argentina's winner in their 1-0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier win over Ecuador with a stunning free-kick goal on Friday morning, equalling David Beckham's all-time record in the process.
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The Argentine returned to international duty with the world champions in the early hours of Friday morning, in what was a tightly contested encounter against Ecuador.
Eventually, however, the Albiceleste found the breakthrough in Buenos Aires in the 78th minute thanks to their captain, who scored his 104th goal for his country with a brilliantly struck free-kick.
Watch the goal here:
El gol de Leo. Todos los ángulos ???? pic.twitter.com/Kx5bd9BUso
— AFA Play (@afa_play) September 8, 2023
That strike ensures that Messi has now found the back of the net 65 times from direct free-kicks in his career, equalling Beckham's record, according to Sportkeeda.
One more set-piece goal would see the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner draw level with his former Barcelona teammate Ronaldinho and ex-Italian footballer Victor Legrotaglie, while he is still five behind Pele and 12 behind the all-time top free-kick goalscorer, Juninho Pernambucano.
Messi has scored five free-kick goals in 2023 so far, with two of them coming for Inter Miami, the club co-owned by Beckham.
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The ex-Paris Saint-Germain forward was named among the 30 nominees for the 2023 Ballon d'Or this week, an award many expect will be between him and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
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