Luanda, Angola – In a friendly match held at Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, Argentina defeated Angola 2-0, with Lionel Messi once again playing a pivotal role. The match, which took place on Friday, was part of Angola's celebration of the 50th anniversary of its independence.
The game saw Argentina, currently ranked second in the world, control much of the play against an Angolan side eager to impress in front of their home fans. Angola showed early promise, with Chico Banza forcing a save from Argentina's goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. However, Argentina's quality ultimately proved to be the difference.
The first goal arrived just before halftime. Lionel Messi, demonstrating his vision and passing ability, slipped a neat through ball to Lautaro Martínez, who slotted it home, beating the Angolan goalkeeper Hugo Marques.
The second half saw Angola putting up a good fight, with moments where they threatened to equalize. Zito Luvumbo came close to scoring, steering To Carneiro's cross just wide of the post. However, in the 82nd minute, Messi sealed the victory for Argentina. After Jonathan Buatu dispossessed him, Messi quickly recovered the ball and fired a shot into the far corner of the net from about 10 yards out.
Both Messi and Martínez were later substituted, having made significant contributions to the win. The victory marked a memorable end to Argentina's international fixtures for 2025. For Messi, this match was particularly significant as it marked his first goal scored in Africa while representing his national team. He also reached a milestone, becoming the Argentinian player with the most goals after the age of 30.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made several substitutions during the match, bringing on Kevin Mac Allister, Máximo Perrone, José Manuel López, Gianluca Prestianni, and Joaquín Panichelli to replace Alexis Mac Allister, Lautaro Martínez, Lionel Messi and Thiago Almada.
The match was more than just a friendly; it was a celebration of Angolan football and their 50th year of independence. While Angola showed determination and spirit, Argentina's experience and the brilliance of Lionel Messi ensured a comfortable victory for the world champions.
