Key Takeaways:
- Argentina recorded a 4:0 win against Bolivia in their first fixture following Lionel Messi’s international retirement
- Goals were contributed by Lautaro Martínez, Nico Paz, Cristian Romero, and José Manuel López
- Messi will appear one final time for Argentina next Tuesday in a farewell match against Benin in Buenos Aires
Convincing Performance Ushers in Post-Messi Era
Argentina delivered a dominant performance in their first outing since Lionel Messi’s announcement to retire from international football. The reigning world champions secured a 4:0 victory over Bolivia in a friendly, netting twice in each half to mark a successful beginning to a new chapter. This fixture also marked their return to the pitch after a dramatic defeat to Spain in the World Cup final, which concluded with extra time.
#SelecciónMayor
🗓 Amistoso Internacional⚽️ #Argentina 🇦🇷 4 🆚 Bolivia 🇧🇴 0
⏱️Final del partido y ¡ganó la Scaloneta!
🗣️ Goles: Lautaro Martínez, Nico Paz, Cristian Romero y José López
📍 Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes pic.twitter.com/4hPFsvdxAK
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) October 1, 2026
Breakdown of Scorers and Match Events
Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring for Argentina in the 19th minute, setting the tone for a confident display. Nico Paz followed with a goal in the 29th minute, establishing a comfortable lead by half-time. The second half saw Cristian Romero netting Argentina’s third goal in the 54th minute, before José Manuel López completed the rout in the 86th minute.
| Minute | Scorer | Goal Tally |
|---|---|---|
| 19′ | Lautaro Martínez | 1:0 |
| 29′ | Nico Paz | 2:0 |
| 54′ | Cristian Romero | 3:0 |
| 86′ | José Manuel López | 4:0 |
Leadership Changes and Upcoming Fixtures
With 39-year-old Lionel Messi announcing his departure from international football last month, the captaincy for this match was handed to Cristian Romero. Nevertheless, Argentina fans will have another opportunity to witness Messi in national colours, as he will don the number 10 shirt one last time during his farewell match against Benin in Buenos Aires next Tuesday. Messi has featured in 207 matches for his country, making him Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with 125 goals, including 21 strikes in World Cup tournaments.
Prior to Messi’s final appearance, the Albiceleste are set to play another friendly match this Saturday when they meet Burkina Faso.
