Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia: Player Ratings

Let’s take a look at the player ratings from the 2022 FIFA World Cup match between Group C rivals Argentina and Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia pulled off the first big upset of the 2022 World Cup to beat Argentina 2-1 in Group C following a quick-fire double from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari early in the second half.

Green Falcons leave Messi & Argentina stunned…

At first, it seemed business as usual for an Argentinean team that had gone 36 matches undefeated. Lionel Messi scored a 10th-minute penalty to put Lionel Scaloni’s side ahead. In doing so, he became the first Argentina player to score in four World Cups and there seemed to be no way back for Saudi Arabia.

The Middle East nation was second best throughout the opening 45 minutes; failing to register a single shot on target. Losing captain Salman Al-Faraj to injury didn’t help their cause. However, while Argentina put the ball into the net a further three times, once by Messi and twice by Lautaro Martinez, the scoreline remained 1-0 after the referee ruled all goals as offside.

Then, barely three minutes into the second half, the game was back on as Saudi Arabia drew level.

Saleh Al-Shehri capitalized on some poor defending from the Argentine defense to equalize. The striker got around Cristian Romero before slotting the ball past Emiliano Martinez and into the bottom right corner, sending the Saudi fans into raptures in the process.

Salem Al-Dawsari then curled the ball into the corner just five minutes later to put Saudi Arabia in front in what was their second and final shot on target.

Argentina tried to force their way back into the game, but it was too little too late. Saudi Arabia put their bodies on the line, surviving a late onslaught of attacks, to become the first non-European team to beat the South American side at a World Cup since Cameroon in 1990.

They’ll hope for a similar performance against Poland on Saturday, while a heavily-wounded Argentina will play Mexico on the same day.

How does the Group C table look now?

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Player Ratings

Argentina: E. Martinez (6); Molina (6), Romero (6), Otamendi (7), Tagliafico (5); Di Maria (5), De Paul (7), Paredes (7), Papu Gomez (6); Messi (8), L. Martinez (7).

Bench: Acuña (7), Alvarez (6), Fernandez (6), Martinez (7).

Saudi Arabia: Al Owais (8); Abdulhamid (6), Al-Tambakti (7), Al Bulaihi (6), Al-Shahrani (7); Albrikan (6), Al-Faraj (5), Kanno (7), Al-Dawsari (6); Al-Sheri (8).

Bench: Alabid (6), Al-Ghannam (6).

Feel free to pick your player ratings using the list below.