Messi scores as Argentina finishes 2025 with victory
Argentina rounded off the calendar year in style after it beat Angola 2-0 at Estadio 11 de Novembro in its final match of 2025.
Lionel Messi assisted Lautaro Martinez for the opener towards the end of the first half before the striker returned the favour in the 82nd minute as the reigning world champion held off a batting Angola side in Luanda.
It was an eventful first half as Messi missed two golden opportunities from close range either side of Zito Luvumbo's powerful strike, which went straight at Geronimo Rulli in the Argentina goal.
But just two minutes before the break, Martinez managed to find the back of the net as he snuck the ball between the legs of Angola goalkeeper Hugo Marques after a perfectly weighted pass from Messi.
Angola showed plenty of threat in the second half, with Luvumbo once again at the heart of things. He first struck the ball at Rulli again after a sweeping counter-attack from the hosts before failing to hit the target from To Caneiro's cross shortly after the hour mark.
Angola was made to pay for its wastefulness by Messi, who managed to find the bottom-right corner with an emphatic finish after being picked out with a first-time pass by Martinez.
