Argentina Crushes Burkina Faso 7-0 Ahead of Messi's Farewell Match
Argentina thrashed Burkina Faso 7-0 in a friendly match at the Monumental, amid severe travel disruptions for the visitors. Lautaro Martínez equaled Sergio Agüero's scoring record as the team prepares for Lionel Messi's farewell match.
Argentina cruised to a comfortable 7-0 victory over Burkina Faso in a friendly match at the Estadio Monumental, but the game was overshadowed by the extraordinary travel chaos faced by the African side.
Travel Chaos and Youth Squad
Burkina Faso's original flight from Morocco to Argentina was canceled, leaving the delegation stranded in Casablanca for several days. A large portion of the senior squad refused to make the delayed trip, forcing coach Amir Abdou to field a makeshift team composed mainly of under-23 players and emergency call-ups. The resulting mismatch was evident from the opening whistle.
Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring in the 3rd minute after following up on his own missed penalty. Momouni Diallo scored an own goal shortly after, and Gianluca Prestianni added a third with his debut international strike. Nico Paz and Julián Alvarez further extended the lead before halftime, making it 5-0.
Second-Half Rout and Lionel Scaloni's Reaction
Lionel Scaloni made five substitutions at the break, and substitute Franco Mastantuono scored his first national team goal to make it 6-0. Giuliano Simeone sealed the 7-0 rout in stoppage time, matching Argentina's biggest win under Scaloni, reminiscent of their victory over Curaçao in 2023.
"We must thank Burkina Faso and those who came for the effort they made," Scaloni said after the match. "What they did honors football. We tried to play as if it were a final, because that is the only way to respect these guys."
With the warm-up match concluded, Argentina now turns its attention to a historic farewell. On Tuesday, Lionel Messi will play his final match for the national team at the Monumental against Benin, marking an emotional milestone for the country.
