Messi scores and assists, Argentina beats Angola 2-0

Argentina closed out the FIFA Days of November with a 2-0 win over Angola in their only friendly match. Lionel Messi had a hand in both goals, setting up Lautaro Martinez for the opener before sealing the result himself. After the match, coach Lionel Scaloni stressed that this was a valuable test of their technical ability against an opponent with good physical strength and speed.

Highlights from coach Lionel Scaloni

Speaking after the match, coach Lionel Scaloni said: "You always learn a lot when playing a match against opponents you don't know well, and teams with many physically strong players like Angola.

The game was a good test, they have quick players. I think we took our chances to score, although sometimes we could have done better. We tried to play to our strengths, I also congratulate the opponents for their good performance."

Speaking about the personnel selection, he added: "Otamendi did not play because we wanted to give him a rest, we understand what he needs. Today we chose other players but we know he is ready as always. I know these are meaningful days for Angola, we are very grateful for the welcome they gave us."

Development and effectiveness

Argentina fielded a strong line-up, Messi playing almost the entire match and helping his team control the tempo against opponents 87 places lower in the FIFA rankings. His assist for Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring and set up a favourable game, before Messi himself sealed a 2-0 win. Scaloni's side were not in trouble, but the test of strength and speed from Angola provided useful situations to hone their reactions and organisation.

Familiar play, calculated choices

Scaloni insisted Argentina "try to play to their strengths", prioritizing balance and efficiency in the final stages. Resting Otamendi is to manage the workload of key players, while also allowing other options to shine. With only one friendly match in this training camp, the deliberate rotation helps the coaching staff gather the necessary data for the next phase.

Special context: 50 years of Angola's independence

The match had a distinctly diplomatic tone as it coincided with the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence. Local authorities applied a symbolic ticket price of $1 to give fans the chance to watch the reigning World Cup champions in person. As a result, the 11 November Stadium was packed, creating an energetic atmosphere for the match.

Selected statistics

• Score: Angola 0-2 Argentina.
• Messi: 1 assist, 1 goal.
• Angola is 87 places below Argentina in the FIFA rankings.
• Tickets: $1; November 11 Stadium is full.
• This is Argentina's only friendly during FIFA Days in November.

Meaning for Argentina

This was a match that served two purposes: to keep the core players feeling the game and to test their reactions against a physically demanding opponent. Scaloni’s observations of Angola’s pace and power helped Argentina add much-needed experience, while also keeping the momentum going as key players like Messi maintained their output in both creating and finishing.