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Lionel Messi scored one goal and set up another as Argentina thrashed Zambia 5-0 on Tuesday in the South Americans’ final game on home soil before launching the defense of their World Cup crown.
Messi, restored to the starting line-up by coach Lionel Scaloni after Argentina’s lackluster win over Mauritania last Friday, made an instant impact in Tuesday’s friendly at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires.
The 38-year-old superstar set up the opening goal for Julian Alvarez before bagging his 116th goal for Argentina with an individual strike just before half-time.
Tuesday’s game marked a World Cup send-off for the reigning world champions, who will face Algeria, Austria and Jordan in Group J of the finals in June.
Argentina will also play a friendly against Serbia in June, and are seeking to arrange another warm-up fixture before the tournament.
Messi is firmly expected to captain Argentina into what will be a record sixth World Cup finals as the South American giants target back-to-back titles.
The Inter Miami playmaker once again demonstrated his enduring influence on the Albiceleste with a typically decisive contribution in a comfortable win.
Alvarez fired Argentina into the lead after just four minutes when Messi effortlessly controlled a lofted pass on the edge of the area and then threaded a pass into the feet of the Atletico Madrid striker to score.
Messi doubled Argentina’s lead with the 902nd goal of his career two minutes before half-time, working a clever one-two with Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister before tucking a low finish past Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza.
Messi could have added to his goals tally just after half-time when Argentina were awarded a penalty following Albert Kangwanda’s foul on Thiago Almada.
But rather than take the spot kick himself, Messi handed the ball to veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi, and the 38-year-old made no mistake from the spot for a 3-0 lead.
An own goal from Dominic Chanda in the 68th minute put Argentina 4-0 up, before rising star Valentin Barco completed the scoring in stoppage time to make it 5-0.