Messi surpasses Maradona World Cup goal tally as he nets first knock out goal in 1000th career game

Lionel Messi opened scoring for Argentina in their first-round knockout match against the Socceroos.

The Argentine is also marking his landmark 1000th career game.

The super star netted his first ever World Cup goal at the knock out stage taking his tally to nine goals, which is one more than legendary Diego Maradona and one goal away from equalling Gabriel Batistuta’s record as Argentina’s all-time World Cup goal-scorer.

Messi now has a whopping 789 goals in 1000 matches his glorious career.

Argentina, favourites to progress, will face Netherlands in the quarterfinals.

Prior to the World Cup, Messi admitted that it could be his last: “I am aware that this is a very special moment. It is most likely my last World Cup – the last opportunity to make my dream, our dream, a reality. But other than that, nothing special.”

Messi has scored 94 goals in 168 games for his country and has appeared at the last four World Cups.