Lionel Messi’s Argentina made a return for the first time since lifting the World Cup last December, as they beat Pana 2-0 in an international friendly on Thursday, March 23. Thiago Almada and Messi were on target in a festive atmosphere at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, as manager Lionel Scaloni picked the same starting XI that also played in the World Cup final against France. Argentina couldn’t break through the Panama defence in the opening half of the match but Almada broke the deadlock with his first international goal, thanks to a rebound from a Messi free-kick.
The Argentine captain, then, finally scored his 800th career goal with a free-kick that went into the top-right corner of the goal. His 89th minute goal doubled Argentina’s lead, ensuring a victory for the side in front of a 80,000-strong crowd at ‘El Monumental’. Messi became the second footballer to reach 800 goals after Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, who has 830 career goals to his name.
A post-match ceremony was also organised by the Argentina Football Association to celebrate the country’s FIFA World Cup victory; it was the country’s third title and their first in 36 years.