Messi drives forward and wins a free kick in the attacking half, putting Argentina in a dangerous position early on.

Messi’s left‑footed effort from the center of the box is heading for the top center, but Hugo Marques reacts well to push it away.

Messi commits a foul while contesting the ball, briefly halting Argentina’s momentum in midfield.

Messi fires a right‑footed shot from the center of the box that flashes just past the top‑right corner, narrowly missing a spectacular goal.

Messi threads a precise pass to Lautaro Martínez, who finishes with a right‑footed strike from the right side of the box into the bottom‑right corner for Argentina’s opener.

Messi drifts out to the right wing, beats his marker, and earns another free kick in a wide attacking area.

Cutting in from the left side of the box, Messi curls a left‑footed shot that just misses the top‑left corner, agonizingly close to doubling the lead.

From outside the box, Messi unleashes a left‑footed strike, but a defender steps in to block the effort before it can test the keeper.

On a rapid counterattack, Lautaro Martínez squares the ball to Messi, who calmly slots a left‑footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom‑right corner to make it 2–0.

Messi leaves the pitch to warm applause after 85 minutes, as Joaquín Panichelli comes on to replace him.