Argentina secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Bolivia in Córdoba on Wednesday night, though the match lacked its usual headline act with Lionel Messi absent from the squad. The win marked the first game following Messi's announcement of his retirement from international football after the upcoming October international window. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring early in the first half, followed by Nico Paz's well-taken chip before halftime.
Cristian Romero, who captained the side in Messi's absence, added a header after the break, with José Manuel López finishing the rout with a close-range strike. Messi will have one final chance to play for Argentina in a sendoff against Benin on October 6 in Buenos Aires, with Argentina also facing Burkina Faso on October 3. The result provided a reassuring performance for Lionel Scaloni's side, returning to action after their World Cup final loss to Spain.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing