Julián Álvarez scored a free kick goal for Atletico Madrid in their 2-1 loss against Espanyol.
Álvarez had the first goal of the new season for Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone’s team were awarded a free kick and it was the Argentine who took it.
He would curl the ball over the wall and beat the goalkeeper to give Atletico Madrid the 1-0 lead. Espanyol would score twice to get the win.
Thiago Almada and Giuliano Simeone would also start for Atletico Madrid.
Joaquín Panichelli scored on his debut for RC Strasbourg in their 1-0 away win vs. Metz on Matchday 1 of Ligue 1.
Panichelli’s winning goal came four minutes from the end, after a fine pass from Argentine Valentin Barco to Dylan Bakwa, who sent in the cross for the Córdoba-born striker to head into the back of the net, sparking a dramatic late celebration.
The 22-year-old striker, who was last season’s top scorer at Mirandés in Spain’s second division with 20 goals, had been on loan there from Alavés. However, Alavés later transferred him permanently to Racing Strasbourg for €16.5 million.
Panichelli’s move was the third most expensive transfer in France this season, behind only Ukrainian defender Ilya Zabarnyi’s €63 million switch to PSG and Brazilian forward Igor Paixão’s €30 million signing for Olympique de Marseille.
Barco, who developed in Boca Juniors’ youth teams as a left back, played as a left midfielder for the French team.
Alejo Véliz got his first goal back for Rosario Central since rejoining them, in a 1-1 draw against Deportivo Riestra.
Véliz joined Rosario Central on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and scored his first goal back at the club. With the score 0-0, Víctor Malcorra would cross the ball in and it would find the Argentine who would score a header to give Rosario the 1-0 lead.
The 21 year old spent last season on loan at Espanyol from Tottenham and he is on loan at his former club for the season.
Ángel Di María also started the match.
Lionel Messi made his Argentina national team debut 20 years ago today.
On August 17, 2005, the Argentina national team won 2-1 in a friendly match against Hungary. Maxi Rodríguez and Gabriel Heinze were the two goal scorers for José Pékerman’s team.
The 2005 U20 World Cup have just finished with Argentina winning and 18 year old Lionel Messi stealing the show by being named as the tournament’s best player and top scorer. José Pékerman called Messi up to the Argentina national team and would include him in the team.
Lisandro López was substituted out for Messi but it was not the debut he was hoping to have with his country. Only 47 seconds later, Messi was red carded after having swung his arm backwards towards a Hungarian player while on the ball.
Argentina players on the pitch protested but the red card stood and Messi was sent off. His next match with Argentina came on September 3 against Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier.
With the Argentina national team, Messi has become the team’s all time top goal scorer with 112 goals and has gone on to captain Argentina, winning the World Cup, a Finalissima and back to back Copa America trophies.
Lionel Messi had a goal and a back heel assist for Inter Miami in their 3-1 win against LA Galaxy.
Messi started the match on the bench for Inter Miami but after being brought on as a substitute, had a goal and an assist. With Inter Miami leading 1-0, both Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul were brought in at half time.
LA Galaxy would get a goal to draw level but after that, it was the Lionel Messi show. The Argentine would receive the ball in midfield, dribble passed his marker and score from outside of the penalty area to give Inter Miami the 2-1 lead.
The Lionel Messi show was not done. After making it 19 league goals this season, it was a pass to Messi and he would back heel it to Luis Suarez who would score Inter Miami’s third goal of the match.
LIONEL MESSI GOAL FOR INTER MIAMI! pic.twitter.com/d3hKxr01Vm
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) August 17, 2025
LIONEL MESSI BACK HEEL ASSIST! LUIS SUÁREZ GOAL FOR INTER MIAMI! pic.twitter.com/tJ3mV8i4c7
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) August 17, 2025
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