Argentina kicked off their post-Lionel Messi era in emphatic fashion with a commanding 4–0 victory over Bolivia in an international friendly on Thursday (October 1, 2026).
Dominating possession and relentlessly pressing forward from the opening whistle, the Albiceleste kept Bolivia’s defensive line under constant pressure throughout the ninety minutes.
Lionel Scaloni’s side controlled the tempo early on and was rewarded almost immediately:
19th Minute (1–0): Lautaro Martínez broke the deadlock with a clinical finish to put Argentina ahead.
29th Minute (2–0): Nico Paz doubled the lead ten minutes later, capitalizing on Argentina’s midfield dominance to send his side into the halftime break with a comfortable 2–0 advantage.
Second Half (3–0): Returning from the break, Argentina maintained their attacking rhythm as defender Cristian Romero found the back of the net.
Final Seal (4–0): López hammered the final nail into Bolivia’s coffin, sealing an emphatic blowout victory.
