Messi comes off the bench in the second half, replacing two‑goal Maxi Rodríguez to join Argentina’s already rampant attack.

Immediately after coming on, Messi produces his first burst of pace, carrying the ball forward from Cambiasso’s pass but his attempt to find Tevez is cut out.

Messi injects pace down the right, drives to the byline and whips a low cross across goal, which Crespo meets at the far post to side‑foot in Argentina’s fourth.

Messi combines with Tevez in a sharp one‑two, but the move breaks down and Tevez ends up fouling Gavrancic as Serbia try to clear.

Messi threads a brilliant pass through the Serbian defence for Crespo, whose first‑time shot is parried by goalkeeper Jevric, denying Argentina a sixth—temporarily.

Tevez slides a precise through ball into Messi’s path, and Messi coolly drills a low shot past the exposed goalkeeper Jevric to make it 6–0.