Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina in one of the biggest upsets in FIFA
World Cup history on Tuesday. The Saudi team defeated Lionel Messi’s Argentina
2-1, with Saleh Alsheshri scoring at the 48th minute and Salem Aldaswari
scoring at the 53rd minute. For Argentina, it was only Lionel Messi
who could score a goal.

Following the match, social media was rife with comments calling for the
Messi, arguably one of the greatest footballers of all time, to retire.

Also Read | FIFA World Cup 2022: Lionel Messi, Argentina fans blame ‘BYJU’s curse’ after shocking defeat vs Saudi Arabia

A Twitter user wrote: “Hahaha!! Not a hater! But I wanted Messi to win
in his last battle. He is gonna retire after this worldcup.”

“It is something like Sri Lankan cricket team losing to Namibia. What a
pathetic! My hero, Messi, it’s time to retire.”

Alistair Abbott, another Twitter user, wrote: “My Malaysian Taxi Driver
on #SaudiVSArgentina ‘May be this Messi guy should quit. The elderly should
retire!”

“Messi needs to work on his pressing and hard yards…Maybe it’s time he
should retire or play for a lesser team against lesser opponents,” another user
wrote.

Also Read | FIFA World Cup 2022: Saudi Arabia defeat Argentina, break 36-game unbeaten streak

Lionel Messi has already announced that the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be
his last. He had retired from his international career earlier, in 2016, but
returned to the game later.

Tuesday’s game was a landmark for Argentina because it broke their 36-game
unbeaten streak. Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais’s splendid
performance ensured the Argentines could not return the goals.

Saudi Arabia team manager, Herve Renard, a Frenchman, was hailed as a
tactical genius following his team’s victory against Argentina. Renard has a
glowing record. In 2012, it was Renard who guided the Zambian team to victory
in the Africa Cup of Nations.

In 2015, the same Renard guided Ivory Coast to victory in the same
Africa Cup of Nations. Saudi Arabia’s victory is a feather in the cap of a
person who once made space for Zinedine Zidane, thereby creating history.