Argentina began life after Lionel Messi with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Bolivia in Cordoba on Wednesday, making an impressive start to a new international cycle following the 2026 World Cup.
The friendly at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes was Argentina’s first match since their dramatic extra-time defeat to Spain in the World Cup final and came without Messi, who has announced his retirement from international football.
The world champions controlled the game from the outset and took the lead in the 19th minute.
Alexis Mac Allister picked out Lautaro Martinez with a precise pass, sending the striker through on goal. Martinez kept his composure with fine moves and finished into the far corner.
Argentina doubled their advantage 10 minutes later through Nico Paz.
Exequiel Palacios supplied the pass for Paz, who produced a composed finish to give Lionel Scaloni’s side a 2-0 lead in the 29th minute. The goal was particularly significant as the young attacking midfielder continues to emerge as one of the players expected to assume greater creative responsibility in the post-Messi era.
Argentina continued to dominate after the break and Cristian Romero added a third in the 54th minute.
Paz turned provider this time, delivering the assist for Romero, who found the net to extend Argentina’s advantage. Romero also wore the captain’s armband in the absence of Messi, adding another symbolic element to an evening that marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Substitute Jose Manuel Lopez completed the rout in the 86th minute.
The Palmeiras forward, who replaced Martinez in the second half, punished a defensive blunder to score his first international goal and seal a 4-0 victory. It was Lopez’s eighth appearance for the national team.
The result offered Argentina an encouraging start to their post-Messi cycle, with four different players finding the net. Paz was particularly influential, scoring once and assisting Romero’s goal, while Martinez maintained his status as one of the national team’s leading attacking figures.
The match also formed part of Argentina’s three-game international schedule during the current FIFA window, with Burkina Faso and Benin to follow.
Messi is expected to make his official farewell appearance for Argentina against Benin on October 6. His absence against Bolivia therefore gave the reigning world champions their first competitive look at life without the player who has been the defining figure of their golden era.
