Leo Messi arrives at the World Cup in peak form. Tonight (between Tuesday and Wednesday) the flea came off the bench of the Argentina national team in the preparatory match against Jamaica in New Jersey due to symptoms of the flu – yet he managed to score a double and star in Albiceleste’s 0:3 victory. Julián Alvarez scored the first goal for Argentina in the 13th minute from a beautiful pass by Lautro Martins, who in the 56th minute made way for the PSG maestro.
From that moment on, Messi took control of the game, repeatedly risking the goal and looking hungry and eager. He found the frame twice, but not the net – until the 87th minute. Giovanni Lo Celso found him free about 20 meters from the goal, and Messi advanced a little and kicked a ball at half height into the net. Two minutes later, Messi completed another double, just like in the warm-up game against Honduras three days ago, with a flat and smart free kick from a similar range.
Messi now has nine goals in his last three appearances for Argentina, taking his total for the national team to 90. For Albiceleste, the streak continues: after tonight’s victory, they are on 35 consecutive games without a loss – very close to the all-time record of the Italian national team, which stands at 37 goals, and equal to the longest streak ever set by the Brazilian and Spanish national teams.
Argentina will play another final warm-up game six days before the start of the World Cup, when they face the United Arab Emirates. After that, she will begin her performances in Group C in Qatar, where she will meet Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia.