Argentina thrash Bolivia 4-0 in first game since Messi's retirement

📰 In their first game since Lionel Messi's international retirement, Argentina beat Bolivia 4-0. 📌 Key points 🏟️ The friendly was played on 30 September at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in Córdoba. ⚽ Lautaro Martínez, Nico Paz, Cristian Romero and José Manuel López scored. 🧢 Messi announced his international retirement in August. 🏆 Argentina lost the July World Cup final 1-0 to Spain after extra time. 👋 Messi's farewell game is against Benin on 6 October. 📝 What happened ⚽ Argentina controlled the friendly from the first whistle. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring on 19 minutes from Alexis Mac Allister's pass, and Nico Paz added a second on 29. Cristian Romero (54) and José Manuel López (86) completed the 4-0 win. 🛡️ Bolivia did not manage a single shot on target. Lionel Scaloni's new generation looked secure at both ends without their talisman. 🧢 Announcing his retirement in August, Messi wrote that he had given everything and that young players deserved their chance. He leaves as Argentina's record appearance-maker and scorer, with 125 goals and 68 assists in 207 games. 🏆 In the World Cup final on 19 July, Argentina held Spain 0-0 in normal time but lost to Ferran Torres's extra-time goal in the 105th minute. 📊 By the numbers • 4-0 v Bolivia, zero shots on target conceded • Messi: 207 caps, 125 goals, 68 assists • World Cup final: lost 1-0 to Spain (aet) 🔭 Why it matters A convincing win in the first match of the post-Messi era eases some concerns, though Bolivia were hardly a stern test. Messi will say goodbye in his final Argentina appearance against Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires on 6 October.