Lionel Messi scored twice and Argentina thrashed Honduras 3-0 on Friday in Miami as the World Cup squad continues to fine-tune its game ahead of the next foreign tournament in Qatar.
Messi in the center of the action from the opening whistle, throwing a pass to Papu Gomez, who discovered Lautaro Martinez for the 1-0.
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Messi, 35, was fouled in the minute when Honduran Deybi Flores hit him, sent him face to face and gave him a yellow card.
Messi’s teammates stood in front of the Honduran players and the groups exchanged words but stopped at the blows. The Argentine captain stayed in the game.
Towards the end of the half, Marcelo Santos fouled Argentina’s Giovani Lo Celso and Messi coldly scored the penalty for the 2-0 lead.
Argentina kept their foot on the fuel in the half, extending their unbeaten run to 34 matches.
Enzo Fernández stole the ball in the 69th minute and it fell to Messi, who hit the goalkeeper on the head to the delight of the fans at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Determined to continue making an exhibition for his fans, Messi attempted a tricky suspension shot in the final minutes of the match, but missed the goal. The crowd shouted in approval.
Argentina’s next step is a friendly, this time against Jamaica on Tuesday in New Jersey.
Two-time World Cup champions Argentina are among the favourites to win it all in Qatar and will play their first organisation-level match against Saudi Arabia on Nov. 22. (Reporting via Rory Carroll in Los Angeles. Editing via Gerry Doyle)
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