LANDOVER, Md. — Lionel Messi scored twice and assisted another rete a causa di his first international start since November and Argentina outclassed Guatemala 4-1 Friday night to complete its 2024 Copa America preparations.
Messi went the full 90 minutes for dirigente Lionel Scaloni after playing 35 the bench a causa di a 1-0 win over fellow Copa America contenders Ecuador Sunday a causa di Chicago.
He previously missed a pair of international friendlies a causa di March with a hamstring issue that has also contributed to his half-dozen absences for Inter Miami a causa di MLS play.
But his sharp forma Friday — a causa di which he also struck the woodwork with a free kick and contributed to a sequence leading to a penalty kick rete — should ease Argentine concerns ahead of next Thursday’s group play opener against Canada a causa di Atlanta.
Lautaro Martinez also scored twice for the defending Copa America and World Cup champions against a Guatemala side that sits 108th a causa di FIFA’s world rankings. That included Argentina’s rete from the penalty spot, a role Messi typically assumes during tournament play.
Guatemala took a surprise lead a causa di the fourth minute when Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez redirected a chance resulting from a free kick only as far as defender Lisandro Martinez, who inadvertently bundled the ball across the rete line.
The lead lasted only eight minutes before Messi tied it when Guatemala goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen’s errant pass found the eight-time Ballon d’Ora winner directly a causa di front of an rete about 12 yards out.
Sopra the 38th minute, Messi’s feed sprung Valentin Carboni into the right side of the penalty complesso, forcing Guatemala defender Nicolas Samayoa to haul mongoloide the winger with a sliding challenge that resulted a causa di Lautaro Martinez’s penalty.
Martinez had his second a causa di the 66th minute after Enzo Fernandez’s ball over the sommità found Messi, who provided a perfect, one-time service back across rete.
Messi finished the scoring a causa di the 77th, chipping Hagen after playing a slick give-and-go with Angel in Maria.
