Argentina made an emphatic start to a new chapter in the post-Lionel Messi era, cruising to a 4-0 victory over Bolivia in an international friendly at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.
With Messi absent, defender Cristian Romero wore the captain’s armband as Argentina controlled the match from the opening whistle, using an aggressive approach and quick passing to keep Bolivia under sustained pressure.
Argentina opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Alexis Mac Allister slipped a pass into the path of Lautaro Martínez, who finished with a low shot to give the hosts the lead.
Ten minutes later, Argentina doubled their advantage. Nico Paz took advantage of goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra’s advanced position and calmly chipped the ball over him to make it 2-0.
The hosts continued to dominate after the break, and Romero added a third in the 54th minute. The defender rose to head home from a set-piece situation, marking a memorable night as he captained Argentina for the first time in his home province.
Argentina completed the rout in the 86th minute when substitute José Manuel López converted after a move involving debutant Leonel Flores. It was López’s first goal for the national team.
The result reflected Argentina’s dominance. The world champions controlled possession for much of the game and created a steady stream of chances, while Bolivia struggled to threaten Emiliano Martínez’s goal.
Coach Lionel Scaloni also used the match to test an attacking partnership of Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez, with the two forwards playing together in a system designed to distribute the responsibilities previously associated with Messi. The pair have now played together 11 times for Argentina, all without Messi on the field.
Nico Paz was another standout performer. The young midfielder scored one goal and played a central role in Argentina’s attacking play, providing an early indication of the options available to Scaloni as the team evolves beyond the Messi era.
The victory also provided opportunities for several newcomers. Santiago Simón made his Argentina debut, while Leonel Flores also earned his first senior appearance and helped create the move that led to the fourth goal.
Argentina will next face Burkina Faso on October 3 before taking on Benin in Buenos Aires on October 6.
The Benin match is expected to be Messi’s farewell appearance for Argentina, bringing his international career toward its final chapter.
