Messi Scores as Argentina Routs UAE 5–0 in World Cup Warmup

Messi Scores as Argentina Routs UAE 5–0 in World Cup Warmup
Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) and Khalifa Alhammadi of the United Arab Emirates fight for the ball during a friendly soccer match between Argentina and United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 16, 2022. Kamran Jebreili/AP Photo
The Associated Press
Updated:

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates—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 favorites 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.