Field Level Media
10 Jun 2026, 09:35 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images)
Lionel Messi came off the bench and converted a penalty in Argentina's final World Cup tune-up friendly Tuesday, a 3-0 defeat of Iceland in Auburn, Ala.
Subbing in during the 70th minute, Messi set up a penalty kick with his first touch of the match, passing a throughball to Lautaro Martinez, who was taken out by Iceland goalkeeper Elias Olafsson.
In the 72nd minute, Messi buried the PK into the roof of the net, doubling Argentina's lead to 2-0 on the 117th international goal of his career.
Messi, 38, missed Argentina's first friendly against Honduras on Saturday as he continued his recovery from left hamstring soreness which forced him to prematurely exit Inter Miami's final match before the World Cup break on May 24.
With his World Cup status seemingly certain, Messi is set to simultaneously set a record this month alongside Cristiano Ronaldo when he appears in his sixth career World Cup.
No one has played in more World Cup matches than Messi, who has appeared in 26, one more than Germany's Lothar Matthaus. Messi's 13 career World Cup goals are tied for fourth-most, three behind German record-holder Miroslav Klose (16).
Valentin Barco (eighth minute) and Thiago Almeda (86th) also scored for Argentina, who outscored their opponents 5-0 in the final tune-up matches entering their World Cup title defense.
Argentina's Group J schedule at the upcoming World Cup features matches against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, Mo.; against Austria on June 22 at Arlington, Texas; and against Jordan on June 27 at Arlington.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Milwaukee Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Milwaukee Sun.
More InformationBOSTON, Massachusetts: A federal judge has invalidated a $100,000 fee imposed by President Donald Trump on new H-1B visas, ruling that...
DUBAI/JERUSALEM: Iran and Israel said on June 8 that they had stopped attacking each other after U.S. President Donald Trump urged...
MUZAFFARABAD, PoJK: Clashes in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir ahead of a protest planned for June 9 left 11 people dead and more...
UNITED NATIONS: The U.N.'s food agency says the Iran war is pushing millions more people into serious hunger, as it had warned would...
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: Airline executives from around the world are meeting in Rio de Janeiro this weekend amid growing concerns that...
TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan should use its defense money more wisely and learn from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, especially...
BOSTON, Massachusetts: A federal judge has invalidated a $100,000 fee imposed by President Donald Trump on new H-1B visas, ruling that...
(Photo credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images) LAS VEGAS -- Tyler Soderstrom and Nick Kurtz each homered for the third time in two games...
(Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images) The Athletics made a change of right-handers on their pitching staff, recalling Joey...
(Photo credit: Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) The Milwaukee Brewers are in agreement...
(Photo credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images) LAS VEGAS -- Both scheduled starting pitchers have a pretty good idea of what to expect...
(Photo credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images) Andrew Alvarez will be in search of a second consecutive sharp start when the Washington...
