Argentina’s superstar Lionel Messi can continue to dream of the ultimate crowning glory of his great career at the World Cup in Qatar.

The Albiceleste defeated the clear underdogs Australia 2:1 (1:0) in the last 16 on Saturday. The two-time champions will now face the Netherlands in the quarter-finals next Friday (20:00 CET/ZDF and MagentaTV).

Messi himself, with his ninth World Cup goal (35th), and Julian Alvarez (57th) sent the reigning South American champions into the last eight in front of 45,032 spectators at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Ar-Rayyan, while Enzo Fernandez (77th) scored an own goal for the Australians. The six-time world footballer Messi, now 35, is playing his fifth and last World Cup in the desert. The heir to the great Diego Maradona is expected to lead Argentina to their third World Cup title after 1978 and 1986.

Argentina: E. Martinez – Molina (from 80. Montiel), Romero, Otamendi, Acuna (72. Tagliafico) – E. Fernandez – de Paul, Mac Allister (from 80. Palacios) – Gomez (50. Martinez), Messi, J. Alvarez (71. Martinez). – Coach: Scaloni

Australia: Ryan – Degenek (72. Karacic), Souttar, Rowles, Behich – Baccus (58. Hrustic), Mooy – Leckie (72. Kuol), McGree (58. Goodwin) – Duke (72. Maclaren), Irvine. – Coach: Arnold

Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)

Goals: 1:0 Messi (35.), 2:0 J. Alvarez (57.), 2:1 E. Fernandez (77., own goal)

Spectators: 45,032 (in Ar-Rayyan)

Yellow cards: – Irvine (2), Degenek (2)