Messi scores as Argentina routs UAE 5-0 in World Cup warmup
Published:Wednesday | November 16, 2022 | 4:27 PM
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lionel Messi played the entire game in Argentina's final World Cup warmup and scored in a 5-0 rout of the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday as the pre-tournament favourites stretched their unbeaten run to 36 games.
Messi scored his team's fourth goal right before the break, having also set up Julián Álvarez to open the scoring in the 17th minute. Angel di Maria scored twice in between.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made four changes at halftime but opted against resting his star player, leaving Messi on for the full 90 minutes.
Inter Milan forward Joaquín Correa scored the visitors' fifth goal on the hour mark.
Argentina starts its World Cup tournament against Saudi Arabia on November 22.
It also faces Mexico and Poland in Group C.
“We're confident,” midfielder Rodrigo De Paul said.
“But for many it will their first World Cup so the first game will be very important.”
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