Ryad (AFP)

Back in selection after three months of suspension, Lionel Messi scored the only goal of the victory (1-0) of Argentina against Brazil, deprived of Neymar, in a friendly match on Friday in Saudi Arabia.

If he could not compete with his friend Neymar, still injured, Messi scored his 69th goal in the selection, responding at bay to his Portuguese rival Cristiano Ronaldo, author him of a hat trick on Thursday to bring his total goals in selection at 98.

And if Messi is still far from Ronaldo in this little game, it is perhaps because he missed lately several opportunities to increase this total. The five-time Golden Ball has indeed been suspended for three months for accusing the South American confederation, Conmebol, of having favored Brazil in the semi-final lost 2-0 in Copa America, won by the Seleçao in last July.

Result, we had more with the Albiceleste since the match for the 3rd place of this Copa America won against Chile (2-1).

Holder for the reunion with his against Brazil, on the unusual lawn of King Saud University Stadium Ryad, Messi scored in two times a penalty rejected by Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson, opening the score before the quarter of an hour of play ( 14th).

Shortly before, Brazil missed the opportunity to take the advantage, on another penalty, obtained after an error by Juan Foyth and a fault of Leandro Paredes. A golden opportunity harvested by Gabriel Jesus, who did not fit his shot (9th).

- Saudi Sports Diplomacy -

In a match where chances of goals were much rarer than fouls (more than twenty in particular Argentinian side), the entries of Coutinho and Fabinho in the second period did not reverse the tendency to the domination of the Sky and White.

Argentina could have even aggravated the mark. Just before half-time, Messi took advantage of a Brazilian error to escape in the axis, continued by two defenders, but his shot found the goalkeeper of Liverpool (45 + 1).

On the hour, it was Sevilla player Lucas Ocampos who saw his powerful shot flee the frame (59th). Then free kick on free kick, Messi had two new opportunities (66th, 70th), stopped by Alisson, who like "the Pulga" is among the 30 named for the Ballon d'Or 2020.

The Brazilians have tried to push late in the game but too timidly and too late. For the Saudi public (about 22,500 people), there will be perhaps more spectacle at the next sporting events organized in the kingdom, impelled by a voluntarist sports diplomacy.

Saudi Arabia will host an E-Award for electric formula (November 22), the boxing match between the British heavyweight Anthony Joshua and American Andy Ruiz Jr (December 7), the Dakar-2020 rally (January 5-17), and as the Spanish Supercup for the next three seasons.

© 2019 AFP