Lionel Messi scored the fastest goal of his career as Argentina secured a 2-0 friendly victory over Australia at Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium on Thursday. A capacity 68,000 crowd watched the game with an overwhelming majority supporting Messi and the rest of his World Cup-winning teammates. Messi mania has taken over the Chinese capital this week as the arrival of one of the greatest ever footballers sparked huge interest in what was essentially a meaningless post-season friendly. Chinese short video platform Kuaishou streamed a video which had been billed as containing an exclusive interview but actually only saw a 50-second appearance by Messi, in a show that lasted an hour. It managed to rack-up 190 million views. Local reports also suggested tickets for the game itself were being sold for as much as 4,800 yuan ($673), although those who forked out hoping to witness some Messi magic were not going to be let down. The match was not even two minutes old when the 35-year-old picked up the ball outside the area before taking advantage of slack Australian defending and curling home a low finish – the fastest of Messi's 103 international strikes coming after 82 seconds. Australia weathered the early storm, though, and almost equalised when attacker Mitchell Duke forced Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez into tipping a close-range shot on to the post. Messi – playing his first game <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2023/06/08/lionel-messi-barcelona-inter-miami/" target="_blank">since agreeing to join American MLS side Inter Miami</a> – and fellow Argentina veteran Angel di Maria both drew saves from Australia stopper Mat Ryan at the start of the second half. And the world champions eventually made their pressure count when German Pezzella headed in a cross to make it 2-0 in the 68th minute. Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez again stretched Ryan as Argentina saw out victory in the sultry summer heat. The day was all about one player, though. Messi is idolised in China, whose underperforming national team and struggling domestic league are chronic sources of disappointment. Midway through the second half, a young-looking fan wearing an Argentina shirt invaded the pitch and briefly embraced Messi before being hauled away by security guards. Thousands greeted the Argentina captain's every touch with roars of anticipation that built to a crescendo when he put his team into their quick-fire lead. They had braved afternoon temperatures of nearly 40 degrees Celsius to gather at Beijing's newly renovated Workers' Stadium a full three hours before the 8pm (4pm UAE) kick-off. Many had donned replica shirts bearing Messi's name, while others wore blue-and-white face paint and waved miniature Argentina flags. Messi has kept a low profile, save for some commercial engagements in which he confirmed the 2022 World Cup was probably his last. But the local excitement around the Argentine legend ratcheted up in recent days as the sell-out match drew nearer. Hundreds of fans massed outside the team's luxury hotel and lined heavily guarded streets in the hope of catching a glimpse of their hero. The South Americans will round off their Asian tour on Monday when they play another friendly against Indonesia in Jakarta.
