Argentina turned their friendly against Burkina Faso into a rout from beginning to end. Lionel Scaloni’s side won 7-0 at the Monumental, scored three times inside the opening 12 minutes and reached halftime five goals ahead. The match allowed the coach to distribute minutes and examine players before the meeting with Benin, planned as Lionel Messi’s farewell appearance before the Argentine public.
The gap between the teams was shaped by extraordinary preparations. Burkina Faso fielded an improvised under-23 squad that arrived in Buenos Aires only hours before kickoff after the senior team declined to travel amid contractual disagreements. That disruption left the visitors unable to maintain the required pace. Argentina treated the contest seriously from the start, pressed high and punished every error from an uncoordinated defence.
The first goal arrived after four minutes. Agustín Giay was brought down inside the box, Lautaro Martínez took the penalty and scored from the rebound after the goalkeeper saved his initial attempt. At eight minutes, Moumouni Diallo diverted Julián Álvarez’s finish into his own net. Gianluca Prestianni made it 3-0 in the 12th minute after combining with Lautaro, registering his first senior international goal.
The burst continued before halftime. Nicolás Paz collected the rebound from his own effort and scored the fourth after 35 minutes. Almost immediately after the restart, Argentina’s pressure recovered possession and a rapid passing sequence ended with Julián Álvarez making it 5-0. Enzo Fernández directed circulation as the team attacked with width, movement and an intensity far beyond the opponent’s capacity.
Scaloni made five substitutions at halftime and continued rotating during the second period. The number of changes reduced fluency, although Argentina remained in complete control. Franco Mastantuono scored his first senior international goal in the 57th minute, finishing low after going through against the goalkeeper. Tomás Palacios also entered the match to record his debut with the senior national team.
The seventh goal came in the final action. Valentín Barco lifted the ball into the area and Giuliano Simeone headed into an exposed goal to complete the 7-0. The score equalled the biggest victory of Scaloni’s tenure, previously achieved against Curaçao in 2023. Lautaro also drew level with Sergio Agüero among Argentina’s leading historical scorers, another notable detail from a night lacking genuine competitive resistance.
The scale of victory must be considered alongside the opponent’s exceptional weakness. Argentina worked seriously, offered minutes to new names and avoided complacency for much of the game, but the real emotional test comes against Benin. Messi is expected to make his final national-team appearance in the country. The rout provided confidence and alternatives; the next fixture requires managing a farewell that will shape the entire sporting atmosphere.
