Without Messi! Argentina win 7-0 and deliver a top performance
Argentina showed they can put on a spectacular show even without Lionel Messi.
Details: Lionel Scaloni's team thrashed Burkina Faso 7-0 in an international friendly at the Monumental in Buenos Aires. Argentina decided the contest almost immediately, scoring five times before the break and giving their opponents virtually no chance to recover.
Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring in the fourth minute, converting the rebound after his penalty had initially been saved. An own goal by Moumouni Diallo made it 2-0, before Gianluca Prestianni, Nico Paz and Julián Álvarez completed a devastating first half.
Argentina did not slow down after the interval. Franco Mastantuono scored the sixth goal in the 57th minute, while Giuliano Simeone completed the rout with a header in stoppage time. Lionel Messi did not take part in the match as Argentina prepare for the captain's planned farewell appearance against Benin on October 6.
Burkina Faso had arrived in Buenos Aires after serious travel problems forced the delegation to rely largely on U23 players. Argentina took full advantage of the situation and recorded their second emphatic victory of the international window after previously beating Bolivia 4-0. It is worth noting that the 7-0 result equals Argentina's biggest victory under Scaloni, matching the scoreline achieved against Curaçao in 2023.
Reminder: Incredible logistical crisis before Argentina clash: Burkina Faso left without its senior team
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
