Lionel Messi scored his 107th and 108th goals for Argentina last night, during the Albiceleste’s final preparation match against Guatemala (4-1). A match that the world champions played in the United States where the Copa America will begin next Thursday.
Lionel Messi will not play in the Paris Olympic Games (July 26-August 11) this summer, but the eight-time Ballon d’Or is in the Albiceleste group to prepare for the Copa America. He scored twice in Argentina’s 4-1 victory against Guatemala for the Albiceleste’s final preparation match on Friday in Maryland. The former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player showed the way to his teammates by putting the reigning world champions back on track after they were surprised at the start of the match.
Lautaro Martinez scored a double
After Guatemala opened the surprise score with an own goal from Lisandro Martinez (4th), Messi quickly equalized (12th) taking advantage of an incredible error from the opposing goalkeeper, Nicholas Hagen. The Colombus goalkeeper in MLS raised directly at him, thinking that the field was clear. But Lionel Messi was there to block and push the ball into the back of the net from an empty goal. Lionel Messi closed the scoring in the 77th minute, scoring his 108th goal for Argentina, after a fantastic exchange of passes with Angel Di Maria, who found his former teammate between four opposing defenders with the outside of his foot . Messi concluded with a dive ball.
In the meantime, Lautaro Martinez had given the 2022 world champions the advantage with a double (39th from the penalty spot, then 66th). Argentina will begin the defense of its Copa America title next Thursday against Canada in Atlanta, for an edition which will be contested for the first time in the United States and extended to North America, Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf). Then she will face Chile (June 26) and Peru (June 30). The next World Cup will also be played partly in the United States in 2026. Lionel Messi could defend his world title there.
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