Friendlies Friendlies
Friendly International• 7 Oct 2026

Argentina 3–0 Benin

Watch all goals in the app

Goals

48'
61'
Assist: L. Messi
70'

Watch all goals in the app

Get the best football highlights experience

Match Recap

Lionel Messi joined the goal spree as Argentina put on a one-sided demolition of Benin, running up a 3-0 scoreline in a Friendlies clash that was effectively settled from the moment Nicolás Otamendi broke the deadlock in the 48th minute. Nicolás Paz doubled the lead at the hour mark, turning a comfortable win into a rout, before Messi capped it in the 70th, his fourth goal of the season and enough to keep him among the league's top ten scorers, just behind leader Lautaro Martínez's six. Benin never found an answer once Argentina's midfield took control in the second half, and the gulf in class showed in how calmly each goal arrived, no scramble, no deflection, just three clean finishes from three different angles. For Argentina, it's the kind of friendly scoreline that doubles as a statement, Otamendi's leadership at the back, Paz announcing himself, and Messi still doing what Messi does. Want to see how Paz picked his spot or the touch Messi needed for goal number three? The highlights below have all three, start to finish.

Match Statistics

Argentina
VS
Benin
67% Ball Possession 33%
— Expected goals (xG) —
5 Total Shots 4
3 Shots on target 0
2 Shots off target 2
0 Blocked Shots 2
3 Shots inside box 3
2 Shots outside box 1
2 Corner Kicks 1
1 Offsides 0
2 Fouls 3
— Yellow Cards —
— Red Cards —
0 Goalkeeper Saves 3
219 Total passes 104
200 Accurate passes 85
91% Pass accuracy 82%
— Goals prevented —

Lineups