FIFA World Cup 2022 Highlights Argentina vs Saudi Arabia: Argentina stunned as Saudi Arabia win 2-1 in Group C tie

First attempt for Saudi Arabia in the match, but the free kick is sent straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. 

ARG 1-0 KSA | 1st HALF

Lautaro Martínez scores! Terrific pass and Martinez just chips it over the charging keeper to put Argentina 2-0 ahead. WAIT! VAR check shows Messi was offside and hence it has been cancelled. 

ARG 1-0 KSA | 1st HALF

ARG 1-0 KSA | 1st HALF

Argentina have never lost a match in World Cup in over six decades after scoring the first goal. 

ARG 1-0 KSA | 1st HALF

A wonderful pass finds Messi as he collects the ball and curls it past the keeper. Messi breaks into celebration only to be stopped by the referee with the offside flag. 

ARG 1-0 KSA | 1st HALF

Martinez collects the ball and fires an attempt which goes off target and is deemed offside as well. 

ARG 1-0 KSA | 1st HALF

Messi with the penalty…and he SCORES!! What a start for Argentina!!! Frustrating for Saudi Arabia

ARG 1-0 KSA | 1st HALF

Freekick for Argentina. Messi takes it but referee halts it for a possible penalty check. PENALTY

ARG 0-0 KSA | 1st HALF

Saud tackles, Gomez goes down. Argentina get a corner. Messi takes it. Goalkeeper takes charge and punches it away from danger

ARG 0-0 KSA | 1st HALF

Messi has his first opportunity at goal in just the 2nd minute of the game as the crowd goes berserk. Misses it. 

ARG 0-0 KSA | 1st HALF

The first of the Group C match is underway at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar where Argentina take on Saudi Arabia. 

Players are still warming up. Fans have already taken their seat and we are moments away from the kick off

"I have no issues whatsoever. I heard there were rumors about having to miss part of the training or training a part of the training, no, it's just precautions. Nothing strange or out of the ordinary.

"I haven't done anything different, I just took care of myself. I have worked as I have done throughout my entire career. This is a special moment, most likely my last World Cup. My last opportunity to make my dream, our dream a reality."

On June 16, 2006, Messi had made his World Cup debut for Argentina. Four years later, he watched most of his Barcelona teammates lift the trophy after Spain were crowned champions. In 2014, he led the team to the final before a 113th-minute strike from Germany's Mario Gotze broke the hearts of Argentina fans. In 2018, Argentina recorded one of their most forgettable campaigns where they lost to France 4-3 in the Round of 16 tie.

Argentina XI (4-4-2): Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico; Di Maria, Paredes, De Paul, Gomez; Messi, Martinez

Saudi Arabia XI (4-4-1-1): Al-owais; Abdulhamid, Al-tambakti, Al-bulayhi, Al-shahrani; Al-faraj, Kanno, Al-malki; Al-brikan, Al-shehri, Al-dawsari.

Saudi Arabia finished atop in Group D to make the third round where they once again finished top of the table in Group B to make the World Cup finals.

Argentina finished second in the CONMEBOL division of the World Cup, winning 11 of their 17 matches. Brazil had finished atop in the points table.

This will be their sixth World Cup appearance. Their best every finish was in their maiden appearance back in 1994 when they had reached the Last 16. In 2018, they incurred a group stage exit after losing two of their three games.

This will be Argentina's 17th World Cup appearance. Their best ever show was in 1978 and 1986 when they had emerged as champions. They only reached the final two other times since their last title haul - 1990 and 2014. Messi's side had suffered a disappointing campaign in 2018 where they lost to eventual champions France in the Round of 16.

The Lionel Messi-led Argentina are presently ranked third in FIFA rankings. Their best-ever ranking was the top spot which they had last claimed back in 2016.

Saudi Arabia are ranked 51 now.

It is situated north of Doha. It has a capacity of 80000, making it the largest stadium for this World Cup. It was constructed in 2021. It will host 10 World Cup matches this year, including the final on December 18.

Goalkeepers: Mohamed Al-Owais (Al-Hilal), Nawaf Al-Aqidi (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Al-Yami (Al-Ahly).

Defenders: Yasser Al-Shahrani (Al-Hilal), Ali Al-Bulaihi (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Amri (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Madu (Al-Nassr), Hassan Tambakti (Al-Shabab), Sultan Al-Ghanam (Al-Nassr), Mohammed Al-Breik (Al-Hilal), Saud Abdulhamid (Al-Hilal).

Midfielders: Salman Al-Faraj (Al-Hilal), Riyadh Sharahili (Abha), Ali Al-Hassan (Al-Nassr), Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal), Abdulelah Al-Malki (Al-Hilal), Sami Al-Najei (Al-Nassr), Abdullah Otayf (Al-Hilal), Nasser Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Abdulrahman Al-Aboud (Ittihad), Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al-Shabab).

Forwards: Nawaf Al-Abed (Al-Shabab), Haitham Asiri (Al-Ahly), Saleh Al-Shehri (Al-Hilal) Firas Al-Buraikan (Al-Fateh).

Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal).

Defenders: Marcos Acuna (Sevilla), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon).

Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica), Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Leandro Paredes (Juventus), Guido Rodriquez (Real Betis), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)

Forwards: Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), Joaquin Correa (Inter Milan), Paulo Dybala (Roma), Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid).

Group A - 

Ecuador 2-0 Qatar; Netherlands 2-0 Senegal

Group B -

England 6-2 Iran; USA 1-1 Wales

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia. Stay tuned for more updates!