Argentina 4 – 0 Haiti [International Friendlies] Highlights 2018 – Lionel Messi’s hat-trick saw World Cup-bound Argentina to a comfortable victory against Caribbean minnows Haiti in Buenos Aires.
It was the Lionel Messi show as his hat-trick guided Argentina to a routine 4-0 friendly win over Haiti with the World Cup looming.
With the World Cup set to get underway in Russia next month, two-time champions Argentina stepped up their preparations thanks to captain Messi’s three-goal haul in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
Messi took his international tally to 64 goals in 124 appearances – the Barcelona star’s penalty breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute before he completed his hat-trick in eight second-half minutes against the Caribbean minnows.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner then set up substitute and Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero with 21 minutes remaining at La Bombonera, where Haiti did not register a shot.
Javier Mascherano joined Javier Zanetti as Argentina’s most-capped player in his 143rd international appearance and the former Barcelona utility was honoured pre-game.
Mascherano was one of five survivors from the starting XI that faced Spain in March’s 6-1 humiliation – Gonzalo Higuain, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico and Giovani Lo Celso retained by Jorge Sampaoli as Messi returned alongside Angel Di Maria.
The gulf in class was obvious in Buenos Aires, where 103 spots separated fifth-ranked Argentina and Haiti.
Haiti struggled to contain Argentina from the outset and the 2014 World Cup finalists – who fill face Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in Group D in Russia – showed their superiority on the scoreboard when Lo Celso was brought down in the penalty area under a rash challenge from Ricardo Ade.
Messi stepped up and converted the spot-kick but only just after Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide got a glove to the ball.