The Argentine men’s national football team secured a 4-0 win over Bolivia on Wednesday, marking the first game since former captain Lionel Messi announced his retirement.

Goals by Lautaro Martínez, Nicolás Paz, Cristian “Cuti” Romero — who was named captain — and José López sealed the deal in the first road test of what the future holds for the Albiceleste in the post-Messi era.

The team coached by Lionel Scaloni hosted its Bolivian counterpart at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba province. The stadium cut a ghostly profile at only 50% capacity as Argentina served a sanction imposed by world football governing body FIFA for discriminatory chants and insults made by Argentine spectators during the 2026 World Cup.

Going up against a rival that looked to defend deep and waste time, Argentina took control of the match from the get-go.

The Albiceleste’s play flowed as it did at the height of Scaloni’s tenure, and just 19 minutes in, Lautaro Martínez scored from a pass into space by Alexis Mac........

© Buenos Aires Herald