Messi scores as Argentina win in Angola

Soccer legend Lionel Messi assisted the opening goal and converted the second as the world champion Argentina side defeated Angola 2-0 during an international friendly encounter in Luanda on Friday.

The Miami resident Messi provided the pass for Lautaro Martinez to give the Albiceleste the lead in the 44th minute. Things switched around in the 82nd minute when Martinez assisted and Messi found the target.

Martinez slotted past 39-year-old custodian Hugo Marques via the near post while Messi rifled his effort into the distant corner of the goal. The pair who scored were replaced towards the end of the second period.

The final score came as no surprise given that Argentina hold the second spot in global rankings trailing only Spain and sitting 87 positions higher than Angola.

The fixture took place at the national venue in Angolas capital to honour the 50th year of independence for this southern African country and past Portuguese territory.

Current champions lack automatic entry to the upcoming World Cup meaning the 2022 victors Argentina needed to face the remaining nine South American teams both home and away to earn qualification for the 2026 event.

They claimed 12 victories drew two and suffered four defeats to lead the closing table on 38 points nine ahead of runners-up Ecuador.

Angola pulled off a surprise by reaching the 2006 World Cup in Germany overtaking Nigeria through superior head-to-head results following a home triumph and an away stalemate versus the sections frontrunners.

Yet the Black Antelopes could not reach the worldwide event across the next five efforts. In their 2026 qualifying campaign they managed only two wins from ten games ending 11 points short of section toppers Cape Verde.