Messi celebrates 1,000th game with goal, World Cup quarterfinal tie against Netherlands

DOHA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Lionel Messi celebrated the 1,000th game of his career with the opening goal as Argentina qualified for a World Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands, who also won on Saturday.

Messi broke the deadlock in the 35th minute in his side's 2-1 win over Australia which was much closer than expected, with a typical left-footed shot that had Australian keeper Mathew Ryan slightly unsighted. It was his ninth goal in the World Cup, but the first in the knockout stage.