Argentina begin post-Messi era with 4-0 thrashing of Bolivia as farewell confirmed
Argentina marked their first match since July's World Cup final defeat — and the start of the post-Messi era — with a comprehensive 4-0 friendly win over Bolivia in Córdoba on Wednesday, days before Lionel Messi's farewell appearance against Benin on 6 October.
Argentina marked their return to action following July’s World Cup final defeat with a comprehensive 4-0 friendly victory over Bolivia at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba on Wednesday — the national team’s first match of the post-Messi era, Flashscore reported (https://www.flashscore.com/news/soccer-argentina-bolivia-friendly-report-01-10-2026/AsldQUtA/).
Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a low finish into the bottom corner, before Nico Paz doubled the lead in the 29th with a delicate chip over goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra (https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/10/01/a4). Newly appointed captain Cristian Romero powered in a header early in the second half, and substitute José Manuel “Flaco” López sealed the 4-0 win in the 86th minute with his first international goal.
The result made it 15 wins in Argentina’s last 16 internationals, and came days after Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football following the 2026 World Cup. The 39-year-old, who made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals for Argentina, will return for one final farewell match against Benin on 6 October at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires (https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/10/01/a4).
Lionel Scaloni confirmed before the match that no player would wear the number 10 shirt until after Messi’s farewell, with Paz among the frontrunners to inherit it (https://www.flashscore.com/news/soccer-argentina-bolivia-friendly-report-01-10-2026/AsldQUtA/). Argentina next face Burkina Faso on 3 October before the Benin farewell.
Sources
- Flashscore, “Argentina put four past Bolivia in first game since World Cup final defeat”, 1 October 2026 — https://www.flashscore.com/news/soccer-argentina-bolivia-friendly-report-01-10-2026/AsldQUtA/
- Sharjah24, “Argentina begin post-Messi era with 4-0 win over Bolivia”, 1 October 2026 — https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/10/01/a4
- Livescore, “Argentina’s first game without Messi works: 4-0 against Bolivia, Lautaro Martinez and Nico Paz on target”, 1 October 2026 — https://www.livescore.com/en/news/football/copa-america/argentinas-first-game-without-messi-works-4-0-against-bolivia-lautaro-martinez-and-nico-paz-on-target-goal/
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