Argentina moved closer to Italy’s world record unbeaten streak with a 3-0 victory over Jamaica in a World Cup warm-up friendly in New Jersey on Tuesday. Lionel Messi scored twice.
After coming on as a second-half substitute at the Red Bull Arena, Messi increased his international goal tally to 90 in 164 appearances.
Messi’s goals capped an emphatic win for the South Americans, who have now gone 35 games unbeaten in a streak dating back to 2019 – just two short of Italy’s world record unbeaten run of 37 games, which was set between 2018 and 2012.
Messi, who also scored twice in a friendly win over Honduras in Miami on Friday, delighted the crowd with an electrifying cameo after replacing Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez in the 56th minute.
He bagged his first of the night in the 86th minute, darting forward before caressing a shot into the bottom corner past Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake.
The 35-year-old seven-time Ballon D’Or winner then produced an impish second goal, craftily curling a low shot underneath the Jamaican wall into the bottom corner from a free-kick.
The presence of Messi enraged the crowd. On three separate occasions, fans ran onto the pitch to get a closer look at the Argentine icon.
Before being bundled to the floor by security, one shirtless fan attempted to get Messi to autograph his back. Messi’s late double capped another assured performance by Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina, who are quickly emerging as one of the favorites to win the World Cup in Qatar in November.
Martinez jinked past Jamaica’s Damion Lowe and cut back for Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez, who tucked away a low finish from close range on 13 minutes.
Alvarez almost had a second soon afterwards but curled his shot just wide. Midfielder Guido Rodriguez also went close, but was unable to direct his volley at the back post on target, instead shooting over the bar. Giovani Lo Celso also threatened with a long-range effort that flew just wide of the top corner in the 33rd minute.
SOURCE: Xtratsports.com
