Overview
- Argentina rolled past Zambia 5-0 in Buenos Aires, with Lionel Messi scoring from a tight angle in the 43rd minute.
- The strike was his 116th in 198 caps and kept his run of scoring in 21 straight years for Argentina alive.
- Messi has yet to publicly confirm he will play at the 2026 World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
- Reporting from Doble Amarilla, cited by World Soccer Talk, says he is expected to play but will wait to announce as he gauges his fitness.
- The same reporting says he also wants to avoid overshadowing Inter Miami’s NU Stadium opening, and the Argentine federation is preparing a planned rollout.