Lionel Messi, Valentín Barco and Thiago Almada scored for Argentina in their 3-0 win against Iceland.
The first half saw Argentina seeing much of the ball and it was Valentin Barco would score the first goal of the match. Argentina would cross the ball into the penalty area, Iceland were unable to clear, the ball fell to Valentin Barco and he would score from outside of the penalty area to give Argentina the 1-0 lead.
Argentina would continue to see more of the ball. A cross from Valentin Barco to Nico Paz but his effort from close range was saved by the goalkeeper.
Lionel Scaloni would make five substitutions. It was Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Cristian Romero and Lautaro Martínez for Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Valentín Barco, Lisandro Martínez and José Manuel López.
Argentina would almost score a second goal. Nico Paz received the ball out wide and played it across the Iceland penalty area to Lautaro Martinez but he was unable to get to the ball.
Scaloni would make more substitutions. Nicolás González and Thiago Almada for Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz.
Lautaro Martinez would receive the ball out wide, he would cut inside but his effort hit the post. Scaloni would substitute in Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Montiel for Giuliano Simeone and Agustín Giay.
Moments after being substituted in, Lionel Messi would receive the ball and with his first touch of the ball, he would drag it and play a pass to Lautaro Martinez. He would chip the goalkeeper, get tackle but his effort would go wide and the referee would award Argentina a penalty kick on the tackle.
Lionel Messi would take it and he would score to give Argentina the 2-0 lead.
At 2-0, Lionel Messi would play a pass to Rodrigo De Paul who would go out wide and his pass into the penalty area found Thiago Almada who scored Argentina’s third goal of the match.
The Argentina national team will play Algeria in their first match at the World Cup on June 16 in Kansas City.
— Messi World (@MessiWorld101) June 10, 2026
— Messi World (@MessiWorld101) June 10, 2026
— Messi World (@MessiWorld101) June 10, 2026
Soild performance from team, Barco is proving his point to be a starter. Lautaro MArtinez is looking like a man on a mission. RDP always plays well for Argentina. Giay is scaloni’s trusted Rb, though offers less attackingly but both Medina and giay were super solid defensively. Glad everyone got minutes. Next step WC opener vs Algeria…We are ready to go, compete and roar. Vamos Argentina For Life!!
Watched the match live on youtube(had to switch videos 4-5 times), and it was a good game from Argentina. Although the score should have been more like 6-1 because Argentina missed at least 3 sitters and Iceland did at least 1. Argentina played better in the 2nd half after many of their main players came in. Almada was given Man of the match, if I am not mistaken, but could have been any of at least 5 players.
Messi exorcised the demon of WC 2018 penalty miss vs Iceland by scoring his penalty in style. Would love to see Scaloni trying Messi as a sub post 60th min atleast in Jordan & Algeria matches. A fresh Messi vs tired defenders will make us lethal. Something like Paz till 60th minute & then launch Messi.
Palacios , GLC shaped well & even if Alexis looks offcolor we have lot of meat in midfield. RDP again is impactful as a substitute & so should Simeone be. Barco has made a strong case as a starter. 2 goals in 150mins in national jersey as a midfielder is very promising. Was surprised why Ota started over Cuti who needed minutes. Among probables, clearly coach prefers Giay over Calpado. Giay & Medina have very low ceilings as far as attack contribution goes. We should be happy if they do defensive duties decently. Was hoping Flaco got a longer game to settle down & Lautaro anyway did not push his pedal today
Now comes the big decision on Balerdi replacement & final decision on Montiel, Parades & Molina. Scaloni will surely be ok retaining Dibu, Molina & Alvarez even if they are not 100% fit for Match 1. Giay coming in for Montiel is a solid possibility. But worried if we go for a midfielder instead of Balerdi considering our CB fitness. But hoping it is not Guido which is a step in backward direction inspite of his late flourish in la Liga with Valencia.
I think Scaloni shouldn’t take any risks and should definitely call up another center-back instead of Balerdi.
This match provided the clearest evidence yet of where Argentina stands:
· Without Messi (first 70 minutes): Functional, controlled, leading 1-0, but not devastating. Barco’s goal came from a set-piece scramble, not open-play dominance.
· With Messi (final 20 minutes + stoppage): Two goals, including a penalty he earned himself, and a noticeable lift in attacking threat.
The team is not “dependent” in the 2022 sense…they can win without him. But the ceiling rises dramatically when he is on the pitch. That is not dependency; that is having the greatest player of all time available to close out games.
…and sorry guys, I tried posting the match link but… it got banned…so I will post no further links of the match.
The team took it easy, not wanting to risk injury in the oppressive heat. Some good combination play. Barco with a goal, and should have had an assist. Paz also should have had an assist, but Lautaro wasn’t going to bust his lungs in this heat. Only slight concerns was lax defending from Giay from which Iceland should have scored within the first 5 mins. Messi looking sharp. The team looks well setup to defend their title!
Lots of positive to carry from this match. I think after 2022, for the first time will watch a world cup remaining 100% calm. Every win will be cheered and even if we cannot go all the way, i am satisfied with the journey. Good luck Argentina.