A bold and brilliant Saudi Arabia pulled off one of the World Cup's biggest shocks as they came from behind to stun two-time winners Argentina in a fantastic Group C opener in Lusail.
Ranked 51st in the world, Saudi Arabia could have been done and dusted in the first half as Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Argentina had three goals ruled out for offside.
But Saudi Arabia flipped the game on its head in a stunning 10-minute period after half-time, Saleh Al-Shehri levelling with a low effort and Salem Al Dawsari firing them ahead to spark pandemonium in the stands.
Having shown their ruthlessness at one end, the Green Falcons demonstrated a ruggedness at the other, holding a stellar Argentina front line at bay to secure only their fourth World Cup win in history and throw the group wide open.
Lionel Scaloni's Argentina came into the tournament among the favourites, on the back of a 36-game unbeaten run that included winning the 2021 Copa America.
They now have it all to do to keep alive their hopes of a first global triumph since 1986 and give Messi a fitting ending to what is very likely his World Cup swansong.
They face Mexico on Saturday, while Saudi Arabia take on Poland.
More to follow.
helpHow to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Argentina
Squad number8Player nameAcuña
Squad number9Player nameÁlvarezSquad number24Player nameFernándezSquad number25Player nameMartínezLine-ups
Argentina
Formation 4-4-2
23Martínez
26Molina13Romero19Otamendi3Tagliafico
11Di María7De Paul5Paredes17Gómez Villaverde
10Messi22Martínez
23Martínez26Molina13RomeroSubstituted forMartínezat 59'minutes19Otamendi3TagliaficoSubstituted forAcuñaat 71'minutes11Di María7De Paul5ParedesSubstituted forFernándezat 59'minutes17Gómez VillaverdeSubstituted forÁlvarezat 59'minutes10Messi22MartínezSubstitutes
1Armani2Foyth4Montiel6Pezzella8Acuña9Álvarez12Rulli14Palacios15Correa16Almada18Rodríguez20Mac Allister21Dybala24Fernández25MartínezSaudi Arabia
Formation 4-1-4-1
21Al Owais
12Abdulhamid17Al Tambakti5Al Bulayhi13Al Mohammadi Al Shahrani
8Al Wahbi Al Malki
9Al Brikan7Al Faraj23Kanno10Al Dawsari
11Al Shehri
21Al OwaisBooked at 90mins12AbdulhamidBooked at 82mins17Al Tambakti5Al BulayhiBooked at 75mins13Al Mohammadi Al ShahraniSubstituted forAl Buraykat 90+9'minutes8Al Wahbi Al MalkiBooked at 67mins9Al BrikanSubstituted forAsiriat 89'minutes7Al FarajSubstituted forAl Abidat 45+4'minutesBooked at 88minsSubstituted forAl Amriat 88'minutes23Kanno10Al DawsariBooked at 79mins11Al ShehriSubstituted forAl Ghannamat 78'minutesSubstitutes
1Al Rubaie Al Yami2Al Ghannam3Madu4Al Amri6Al Burayk14Otayf15Al Hassan16Al Naji18Al Abid19Bahbri20Al Obud22Al Suweiti Al Aqidi24Al Shardan Al Dawsari25AsiriReferee:Slavko VincicAttendance:88,012Live Text
Match ends, Argentina 1, Saudi Arabia 2.
Second Half ends, Argentina 1, Saudi Arabia 2.
Attempt saved. Julián Álvarez (Argentina) header from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Ángel Di María with a cross.
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Salem Al Dawsari.
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Saud Abdulhamid.
Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Mohammed Al Burayk replaces Yasir Al Shahrani because of an injury.
Offside, Saudi Arabia. Salem Al Dawsari tries a through ball, but Mohammed Kanno is caught offside.
Corner, Saudi Arabia. Conceded by Marcos Acuña.
Mohammed Al Owais (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card.
Offside, Argentina. Rodrigo De Paul tries a through ball, but Nicolás Otamendi is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marcos Acuña with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Hassan Tambakti.
Ángel Di María (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Haitham Asiri (Saudi Arabia).
Ángel Di María (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Yasir Al Shahrani (Saudi Arabia).
Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Haitham Asiri replaces Feras Al Brikan.
Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Abdulelah Al Amri replaces Nawaf Al Abid.
Nawaf Al Abid (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Argentina) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ángel Di María with a cross.
