🇦🇷 Lionel Messi pulls the strings as Argentina down Honduras | OneFootball

Argentina cruised past opponents Honduras with a 3-0 win inspired by the efforts of Lionel Messi.

Scorers: Martinez 16′, Messi 45+2 (P), 69′

Right from kick-off at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, it was clear Honduras had a plan to try and shut down Argentina’s main threat.

By despite man-marking Lionel Messi, the 35-year-old still found a way to dazzle in front of a rocking crowd and inspired his country to an effortless win.

Argentina maintained complete dominance of the match across 90 minutes with 70% possession and threatened Honduras immediately. Papu Gómez and Leandro Paredes, in particular, had promising cameos.

It took just over 15 minutes for the deadlock to break as a result, as Messi’s scooping pass into the box found Nicolás Tagliafico who squared the ball to Lautaro Martínez for 1-0.

As time went on things turned feisty on the pitch and the PSG ace took a knock to the face which saw his team-mates rush to his protection in a brief fight by the touchline.

Over time, Honduras continued to commit more choppy tackles and that led to Messi being allowed to double things from the spot on the stroke of half-time.

Coming out after the break Argentina threw numbers forward with Ángel Correa and Julián Álvarez joining in on the action. But it was you know who once again who wrapped up a 3-0 win.

Messi picked up a loose ball following a turnover, took a slight look up, and chipped goalkeeper Luis López for his 88th international goal.

Enzo Fernández meanwhile, came inches away from adding a fourth when his long-range effort hit the woodwork late on.

Both teams will return to action on Tuesday as Argentina face Jamaica and Honduras face Guatemala.