Lionel Messi led Argentina to a resounding 5-0 victory over Zambia in a friendly match at La Bombonera, concluding the March 2026 international break.
Lionel Scaloni’s squad had faced heavy criticism after a lackluster 2-1 win against Mauritania, necessitating a reassuring response just two and a half months before the start of the 2026 World Cup.
Argentina crushes Zambia, Messi scores
Messi made his first start of the March international break, in what is expected to be his final home game for Argentina.
After coming on as a second-half substitute against Mauritania last Friday, the Inter Miami star provided the assist for Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez’s opening goal in the fourth minute, giving Argentina an early lead.
Messi doubled the lead just before halftime. In the second half, Argentina were awarded a penalty, and in a remarkable gesture, the Argentine maestro gifted the ball to veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi, giving him the opportunity to score in his final home match, as Otamendi had announced his retirement from international football after the World Cup.
Argentina completed the rout with a 5-0 victory, thanks to an own goal by the Zambian defense in the 68th minute and another goal by young Valentín Barco.
Argentina’s star player suffers ACL injury and will miss the 2026 World Cup
Will Messi participate in the 2026 World Cup?
Lionel Messi’s participation in the 2026 World Cup with Argentina remains uncertain, as he has yet to make a final decision amidst global anticipation regarding the future of the 2022 World Cup champions.
Messi wants to ensure he is 100% physically fit for the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He doesn’t want to play a secondary role but rather wants to fully contribute to Argentina’s success in the highly anticipated global event.
Messi has started the season well with Inter Miami, so it’s highly likely he will ultimately decide to participate in the World Cup, unless he suffers an injury or something unforeseen occurs in the 70 days leading up to the tournament.
Messi has refused to return to Barcelona, regardless of who the new president is
Argentina’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup
Argentina was scheduled to face Spain in the Finalesma Cup in Qatar, but the situation in the Middle East led to the cancellation of the match after the Argentine Football Association refused to move it to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. Perhaps this situation could be described as a blessing in disguise. Scaloni wasn’t happy about playing such a tough match during this international break and preferred facing technically weaker opponents for better preparation for the World Cup.
After victories against Mauritania and Zambia, the Argentine national team is preparing for two matches in June before the start of the World Cup. Interestingly, the Argentine Football Association has yet to secure its opponents, unlike most other teams around the world who have already finalized their pre-tournament fixtures.
Argentina’s Group in the 2026 World Cup
Argentina has been drawn into a seemingly manageable group alongside Austria, Jordan, and Algeria.
The Albiceleste will begin their campaign against the Desert Warriors on June 17, followed by a thrilling encounter with Austria on June 22, and will conclude their group stage matches against Jordan on June 28.
