In their final friendly before the start of the World Cup, Argentina beat Iceland 3-0 and extended their winning run to seven matches. In a game featuring a different starting XI than usual, La Albiceleste scored through Barco, Messi and Thiago Almada.
The team coached by Scaloni took an early lead. After some confusion in the box, the ball fell to Valentín Barco, who fired a mid-range effort low inside the near post of Ölafsson's goal to open the scoring.
The first half did not produce many chances, and Scaloni used the break to make five changes to his side. In the 70th minute, the team’s star player entered the pitch and made an immediate impact.
With his very first touch, Messi played Lautaro Martínez through on goal, and the striker was brought down in the area by Ölafsson. From the penalty spot, Messi doubled Argentina’s lead and netted his 117th international goal.
Messi was involved again in Argentina’s third goal, finding Rodrigo De Paul, who laid the ball off for Thiago Almada to finish into an empty net.
This was Argentina’s seventh straight win ahead of their World Cup opener against Algeria next Wednesday, the 17th.
