Argentina made a confident start to a new phase of its international football journey, defeating Bolivia 4–0 in Córdoba as the national team played without Lionel Messi.
The friendly at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes represented an important moment for Lionel Scaloni’s squad, with Messi absent following his decision to end his international career. The match gave Argentina an early opportunity to assess how the team can operate without the player who has been at the centre of its greatest successes in recent years.
Argentina wasted little time establishing control. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring before Nico Paz extended the hosts’ advantage, leaving Bolivia with a difficult task before the interval.
Paz was particularly influential throughout the contest. The young midfielder combined his attacking contribution with creative play, scoring one of Argentina’s goals and providing an assist. His display underlined the growing importance of the next generation as Scaloni begins to shape the team’s future.
The hosts remained in command after the break and continued to threaten the Bolivian defence. Cristian Romero headed home Argentina’s third goal after another contribution from Paz, putting the result effectively beyond doubt.
José Manuel López then completed the scoring, marking his first international goal after making eight appearances for Argentina. The variety of goalscorers provided another indication that the team possesses several attacking options capable of sharing the responsibility previously associated so heavily with Messi.
The result also gives Scaloni useful information as Argentina experiments with different combinations. Julián Álvarez and Martínez were deployed together in attack, while Paz was handed a prominent creative role as the coaching staff explored alternatives in the absence of Messi.
Scaloni has previously acknowledged that Argentina will have to adapt rather than attempt to find a direct replacement for its longtime captain. Messi’s influence extends beyond goals and assists, meaning the team’s tactical approach is likely to evolve as younger players assume larger responsibilities.
Argentina’s recent success has been closely linked to Messi. During Scaloni’s tenure, the national team won the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles, establishing one of the most successful periods in its modern history. His departure therefore represents a major transition for a squad that has developed a distinctive style around his presence.
The victory over Bolivia, however, offered an encouraging early sign that Argentina can remain competitive while beginning that transition. Four different players found the net, while the team maintained control for long stretches of the match.
For Bolivia, the evening ended with a substantial defeat against an Argentina side that controlled both the tempo and the attacking opportunities. The Bolivian defence struggled to contain Argentina’s movement, particularly as the hosts increased their pressure during the second half.
The match was only the beginning of Argentina’s preparations for life beyond Messi. The team is scheduled to play further friendlies, giving Scaloni additional opportunities to evaluate younger players and different tactical combinations.
Messi is also expected to feature in Argentina’s upcoming farewell fixture against Benin on October 6. That appearance will provide a separate occasion to celebrate his extraordinary international career before the national team moves further into its next phase.
For now, Argentina can take confidence from its opening performance without its iconic captain. The 4–0 victory over Bolivia demonstrated that the squad has depth, emerging talent and multiple sources of attacking threat.
While one friendly cannot determine what Argentina’s post-Messi identity will ultimately look like, the emphatic result provided a clear first glimpse of a team beginning to build toward its future.
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