Messi Scores his fastest career goal

Lionel Messi scored his fastest career goal as Argentina beat Australia in a friendly match in Beijing.

Captain Messi, 35, opened the score after one minute and 19 seconds, looping a shot from the edge of the box into the upper left corner.

In the 68th minute, substitute German Pezzella extended the world champions’ advantage with a header.

Mitch Duke of Australia had a first-half attempt saved by Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Argentina, on the other hand, appeared to be at ease in Messi’s first match since deciding to join American club Inter Miami.

“Today the stadium looked like we were playing in Argentina,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni of the partisan crowd.

He toasted the win in a “difficult game” for his team, adding: “We continued to compete, which is the best thing this team has in its DNA.”

Lionel Scaloni’s squad was playing their third match since winning the World Cup in December, and their first away from home.

On Thursday, the Albiceleste played the Socceroos in a friendly match that was a rematch of the two teams’ World Cup last-16 meeting.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi arrived in China to tremendous acclaim, with fans all throughout the country celebrating the arrival of the dynamic Argentine. And it didn’t take long for him to show off his skills, with a flawless finish inside 120 seconds sealing the fastest goal of his glittering career.

Messi, though, was not pleased, delighting the adoring audience with a slew of flicks and trickery as Argentina raced into a two-goal lead midway through the second half.

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Australia’s poor defending gave substitute German Pezzella in acres of room in the box, and he was wonderfully picked out by Rodrigo de Paul for the second goal.