Argentina 7-0 Curacao

The defending World Cup champions wrapped up their celebration tour on home soil with a 7-0 win over Curacao featuring a first-half hat-trick by Lionel Messi. It’s a win that’s expected to lift Argentina to the No. 1 FIFA world ranking.

Exactly 100 days since hoisting the World Cup trophy, the Argentina captain led his team’s first-half explosion with three of his team’s five goals before halftime. Messi’s first goal was the 100th in his Argentina career, one of only three men’s players in history to reach that mark. (28 Mar 2023)

Argentina 2-0 Panama

Lionel Messi capped a night of unbridled joy with the 800th career goal as world champions Argentina celebrated their homecoming with a 2-0 FIFA friendly victory over stubborn Panama in Buenos Aires on Thursday. The 35-year-old seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s stunning free-kick in the dying minutes came after 21-year-old MLS sensation Thiago Almada gave a glimpse of what the future holds with his first goal for the national team in only his third appearance. (23 Mar 2023)