Lionel Messi, 36, Argentina, had a breakout game as Argentina beat Guatemala by three goals in an exhibition match.
Messi scored two goals and added an assist in the full-time match against Guatemala at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, USA, on Friday (July 15). In a “one-man show,” he led Argentina to a 4-1 victory.
Messi’s first goal came in the 12th minute, with his team trailing 1-0, when he collected a deflection off the opposing goalkeeper and fired into an empty net to break the deadlock.
With the game tied, Argentina added another goal in the 39th minute. A foul in the box earned them a penalty kick, and they sent Lautaro Martinez to the spot. He scored, and Argentina took a 2-1 lead.
This time, Messi got the ‘assist’. In the 21st minute of the second half, Argentina broke through a tight defensive zone. Messi, 안전놀이터 who was near the right side of the box, played a short pass to Martinez, who was standing in the center of the box. Martinez calmly slotted the ball home.
Messi wasn’t done, though, as he added the icing on the cake in the 32nd minute with a lobbing shot over the goalkeeper’s head after receiving a pass from Angel Di Maria. The game ended with a 4-1 victory.
Argentina will next face Canada on June 21 in the first leg of their Copa America Group A matchup.
The goal is to win the tournament.
Argentina last won the tournament in 2021 in Brazil, their first appearance in 28 years.