Published on 05:13 PM, November 22, 2022

Saudi Arabia lead Argentina 2-1

Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. Photo: Reuters

Saudi Arabia took a shock 2-1 lead in the second half of their World Cup game against Lionel Messi's Argentina with brilliant individual goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari.

Al-Shehri squeezed in a low shot in the 48th minute while Al-Dawsari curled in a scorching strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 53rd minute to leave Argentina, one of the tournament favourites, looking shell-shocked.

Earlier in the first-half, Lionel Messi gave Argentina a 1-0 lead in their World Cup Group C opener against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday by stroking in a penalty after a video review spotted a foul as the South Americans dominated but had three goals disallowed. The goal made him the only player to score in four different World Cups.

Messi, playing in his fifth World Cup finals at 35, beat Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais on a breakaway but that goal and two others by team mate Lautaro Martinez were ruled offside.