Lionel Messi marked his return to action with a goal as reigning world champions Argentina cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Iceland in an international friendly at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, in front of a crowd of more than 80,000 spectators.
The match served as a final tune-up for Argentina ahead of their opening FIFA World Cup fixture against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16, and coach Lionel Scaloni will be encouraged by his side’s dominant display.
Although Messi started on the bench, Argentina controlled proceedings from the outset and took the lead in the ninth minute through midfielder Valentín Barco. The young midfielder unleashed a powerful strike from just outside the penalty area that beat Iceland goalkeeper Elias Ólafsson and nestled inside the post.
Argentina maintained their dominance throughout the first half, enjoying the bulk of possession and creating several scoring opportunities, while Iceland struggled to threaten the South American side’s defence.
With one eye on the World Cup, Scaloni made a series of substitutions at the start of the second half, introducing several first-choice players, including Rodrigo De Paul, Lautaro Martínez, Alexis Mac Allister, Cristian Romero and Enzo Fernández.
The biggest cheer of the evening came in the 67th minute when captain Lionel Messi entered the match during a cooling break. The 38-year-old forward wasted little time making an impact.
Just minutes after coming on, Messi stepped up to convert a penalty after Lautaro Martínez was brought down inside the box. The goal carried added significance as it offered a measure of redemption against Iceland, the same team against whom Messi missed a penalty during Argentina’s 2018 FIFA World Cup opener.
The strike was Messi’s 117th international goal since making his senior debut for Argentina in 2005, further extending his remarkable scoring record for the national team.
Argentina sealed the victory in the 86th minute when Thiago Almada tapped home from close range after a well-worked move involving Messi and De Paul. De Paul’s precise pass set up Almada for an easy finish, putting the result beyond doubt.
The convincing win extended Argentina’s impressive run of form and provided further evidence of the squad’s depth ahead of their World Cup campaign. Even with Messi beginning on the bench, the defending champions displayed their attacking quality and tactical discipline.
Scaloni had confirmed before the match that Messi would feature despite not being in the starting lineup.
“Messi will play, I just don't know how many minutes,” the Argentina coach told reporters before the game.
The friendly also highlighted the strength of Argentina’s squad, which blends experienced stars with emerging talents. Players such as Barco and Almada seized their opportunity to impress, while established figures including De Paul, Mac Allister and Martínez looked sharp ahead of the tournament.
For Iceland, the defeat capped a challenging period following their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The Nordic nation finished third in their qualifying group behind France and Ukraine and missed out on a return to football’s biggest stage.
Argentina, meanwhile, will now shift their full attention to their World Cup opener against Algeria. Led by Messi, who is preparing for what could be his sixth World Cup appearance, the South Americans remain among the favourites to challenge for another global title.
The victory in Auburn provided the perfect send-off for Scaloni’s men as they prepare to begin their quest for World Cup glory once again.
