Messi Says Goodbye to Argentina Fans with a Masterclass in a 5-0 Win Over Zambia BUENOS AIRES — Lionel Messi gave a classic performance on Tuesday night, leading the defending world champions to a 5-0 victory over Zambia at a sold-out La Bombonera. This is likely to be his last game in an Argentina shirt on home soil.
The 38-year-old maestro, who has hinted that the 2026 World Cup will be his last international tournament, scored a goal and set up another in a game that felt more like a coronation than a friendly.
A Night of Old Magic
The atmosphere in Buenos Aires was electric from the first whistle. Messi didn’t waste any time; it only took him four minutes to get past the Zambian defence and set up Julián Álvarez for the first goal.
As the first half came to an end, Messi got the crowd on their feet again. The captain scored in the 43rd minute with a trademark finish. If the rumours about his retirement are true, this will be his last goal on Argentine soil. Veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi and rising star Valentín Barco both scored again in the second half, showing how deep Argentina’s offence is.
The “La Bombonera” Applause
At the end of the night, when Messi was taken off the pitch to a loud standing ovation, the emotional high point of the night was reached. Fans in the stands were crying and chanting for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to lead the country to a fourth star this summer.
“It was a special night,” said a fan wearing the sky-blue and white stripes. “We’re not just watching a player; we’re watching history come to an end in our house.”
Scaloni’s Last Squad Warning
Even though the score was lopsided, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has kept his players on high alert. The win comes after a disappointing 2-1 win over Mauritania last Friday that left the coaching staff unhappy.
Scaloni said before the game against Zambia that he would take “drastic measures” with the final 26-man World Cup roster if the team’s intensity didn’t meet his standards. With the May 30 deadline for final squad submissions coming up, Tuesday’s performance was a very important statement of intent.
The starting XI was almost the same as the one that beat France in the 2022 final, but Rodrigo De Paul was still out because he was recovering from a muscle injury.
The Path to June 11
On June 11, the World Cup will begin in the US, Mexico, and Canada. Argentina will be in Group J, where they will try to defend the titles they won in 1978, 1986, and 2022.
Schedule for Argentina’s World Cup:
June 16: Algeria
June 22: against Austria
June 27: against Jordan
The Albiceleste are getting ready to leave for North America, and their win over Zambia is a sad reminder of the “Messi Era,” a time when they were the best team in the world. The last chapter of that era may have just been written in the heart of Buenos Aires.
