Argentina's national team secured Lionel Messi in a friendly against Paraguay on June 29, 2004. In that match, Argentina won 8-0 with Messi scoring the 7-0 goal.

What happened?

The AFA organized a friendly match of the Sub 20 against their Paraguayan counterparts with the objective of securing the then relatively unknown Lionel Messi. The Flea occupied a place on the substitutes' bench with the jersey with the same number, 17.

Why is it important for Argentina?

This match was key for Argentine football, as Messi began to stand out on the international scene. Argentina, led by Hugo Tocalli, took to the field with Nereo Champagne; Lautaro Formica, Ezequiel Garay, Ricardo Villalba; Pablo Zabaleta, René Lima, Juan Manuel Torres, Matías Abelairas; Pablo Barrientos; Ezequiel Lavezzi and Pablo Vitti.

What's next for Argentina?

Recently, Argentina has had a good performance, with a streak of 3 consecutive wins. Their last match was a 2-0 win against Angola on November 14, 2025. | Date | Result | | --- | --- | | 2025-11-14 | Angola 0-2 Argentina | | | 3W-0D-0L (WWW, last 3 matches) | Argentina's national team continues to seek more wins on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.