Argentina vs. Guatemala score, result: Lionel Messi scores two in pre-Copa America win

Argentina vs. Guatemala score, result: Lionel Messi scores two in pre-Copa America win

Argentina’s final tune-up before beginning their Copa America title defense started with a whimper but ended with a bang as a vintage Lionel Messi performance saw them top Guatemala 4-1 in a friendly at Commanders Field outside the U.S. capital on Friday.

Guatemala forced a Lisandro Martinez own-goal inside the opening five minutes to shockingly go in front. They outplayed the world’s top-ranked side for the first 25 minutes, but eventually, Messi and the World Cup champions established dominance and ran away with the match.

Messi doesn’t need any gifts but got one anyway as Guatemala goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen produced a hideous possessional error, passing it right to the Argentine great eight yards from goal for the equalizer.

Despite that, it still took Argentina time to wrestle control of the match, but they would do so before halftime as Lautaro Martinez hit from the penalty spot to take the lead at the break.

From there, Argentina were well and truly on their way to the Copa America, as the second half was all Albiceleste, with Lautaro finding a second before Messi did the same. Argentina will play the opening match of the competition as they raise the curtain on the tournament against Canada in Atlanta on Thursday.

The Sporting News followed the Argentina vs. Guatemala match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.

Argentina vs. Guatemala final score

Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

Location: Commanders Field (Landover, MD)

Starting lineups:

Argentina (4-4-2 diamond, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26. Molina (Montiel, 71'), 19. Otamendi, 25. Li. Martinez, 15. N. Gonzalez — 24. E. Fernandez (Quarta, 71'), 29. Carboni (Di Maria, 62'), 20. Mac Allister (Paredes, 62'), 16. Lo Celso (De Paul, 62') — 10. Messi, 22. La. Martinez (J. Alvarez, 66').

Guatemala (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Hagen (GK) — 16. Morales, 4. Pinto, 3. Samayoa, 2. Ardon — 17. Castellanos (Saravia, 75'), 5. M. Dominguez, 22. Franco — 18. Santis (Mejia, 75'), 9. Rubin (Lom, 75'), 23. Cardoza.

Argentina vs. Guatemala live updates, highlights from friendly

Argentina vs. Guatemala stats

FULLTIME: Argentina 4-1 Guatemala

The poor start for Argentina feels like a lifetime ago, as Lionel Messi emerges with three goal contributions, including a pair of goals as the Albiceleste head into the Copa America on a high note.

Guatemala can be proud of how they started the match, troubling Argentina greatly for the first half-hour, but they eventually succumbed to the greatness of the defending Copa America and World Cup champions. Lionel Scaloni will have some things to work out ahead of a title defense, but all told they overcame a poor start to assert their dominance.

Argentina vs. Guatemala: Second Half

89th min: Guatemala are looking to finish this match on a high note, but as they charge forward towards Emi Martinez's net, Darwin Lom fires a shot from way too far out and skies it miles over the crossbar. A real waste, that.

84th min: Chance, Argentina! Lionel Messi nearly has a hat-trick but puts it wide! He cuts onto his left from 15 yards out and rifles it towards the far post, but it finds the wrong side of the woodwork!

75th min: GOAL! ARGENTINA! Lionel Messi has a second as he finishes off a lovely move! His good friend Angel Di Maria, who will retire from the national team after the Copa America, delivers a bonkers pass right through the middle, and Messi puts the cherry on top with a little dink over the head of the goalkeeper.

72nd min: Chance, Argentina! Angel Di Maria skies a bicycle kick effort just inches high! That's a STUNNING effort that missed by mere inches! Julian Alvarez is put in down the left but has his effort saved, and with the goalkeeper out of the net, Di Maria looks to bike it into the empty net, but misses by the slimmest margin!

Guatemala makes another three changes as Rodrigo Saravia, Carlos Mejia and Darwin Lom come on for Rubio Rubin, Oscar Castellanos and Oscar Santis.

71st min: Chance, Argentina! Lionel Messi is nearly through on goal, but as he slides to put the finish on the ball amidst a charging Nicolas Hagen, the ball is poked away by the toe of Hagen! A stunning save by the Guatemala goalkeeper!

Gonzalo Montiel and Lucas Quarta come off the bench to replace Nahuel Molina and Enzo Fernandez. Lionel Scaloni has been quite cavalier with superstar Lionel Messi, who remains out there with the game all but wrapped up and the Copa America on its way...

66th min: GOAL! ARGENTINA! A gorgeous goal seals the deal for Argentina and sends them into the Copa America on a high note! It's a brilliant combination between Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez who play a one-two from opposite ends of the penalty area. As Messi receives the return ball four yards from goal, he receives the attention of the goalkeeper, so without room to shoot, he squares it to Lautaro Martinez who pokes it into the empty net!

The goal is Lautaro's last action of the match as he's replaced by Julian Alvarez.

63rd min: A yellow card is shown to Lisandro Martinez for coming together with Oscar Santis on the touchline that sends the Guatemalan bundling into the advertising boards.

Guatemala's first change sees Elmer Cardoza withdrawn and replaced by Esteban Garcia.

62nd min: As we reach past the hour mark, Lionel Scaloni has now decided that the health of his players is more important than the final 30 minutes of this match. Angel Di Maria is set to enter as one of three changes, alongside Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes. The trio of Valentin Carboni, Gio Lo Celso and Alexis Mac Allister will come off, as 36-year-old Lionel Messi remains for now.

Carboni can be very proud of his first start for Argentina! A very quality performance.

55th min: Chance, Argentina! Guatemala's small foray forward seems to have woken Argentina back up, and Lautaro Martinez is threaded in on goal from a tight angle down the left, but he takes a fraction of a second too long to shoot, and a defender is able to make a potentially goal-saving sliding block on his effort!

54th min: Guatemala are keeping their heads about them, and finally on the ball in the attacking third, a volleyed shot from Jose Morales is rifled relatively close to hitting the top-left corner of Emi Martinez's net. It's an extremely difficult chance but didn't come too far from what would have been an absolute stunner.

52nd min: This is vintage Argentina with a lead. They aren't refusing to attack, but they are exceedingly patient on the ball, hoping to snuff the life out of the match with suffocating possession and picking their spots to go forward. Guatemala's hardly had a kick of the ball to start the second half.

Kickoff: Argentina were exceedingly late to return to the pitch, but the match is finally back underway. No changes for either side as the referee blows his whistle.

While it's far more in the balance than Argentina would have liked, they have the momentum and could be on their way to the comfortable win they were hoping for if things continue as they did to finish the first half.

HALFTIME: Argentina 2-1 Guatemala

Guatemala were the better side through the first 30 minutes, putting in a brilliant half-hour against the best national team in the world. They were compact yet loose, able to snatch the ball in midfield and counter with venom. The goalkeeping error to gift Lionel Messi an equalizer was an absolute gut punch because it left Guatemala with only a level score for all their laudable efforts.

Unfortunately, they found themselves more and more compact and under pressure as the half went on, and were punished for it. The penalty allowed Argentina to snatch a lead, and they pushed hard for more by the end of the half. Guatemala have to respond or this could get away from them in a hurry once the second half begins.

Argentina vs. Guatemala: First Half

43rd min: Chance, Argentina! Argentina have yet another free-kick just inches atop the penalty area as Lautaro Martinez is bulldozed by Marco Dominguez looking to clear a looped Lionel Messi delivery. Lautaro is arguing with the official that it should be a second yellow for the Guatemalan, but he waves away the protests. In truth, Lautaro has a point, as it's a reckless and dangerous shove.

Messi steps up and nearly scores! It smacks the inside of the post and comes out! Moments later it's in the back of the net, but the offside flag goes up! Argentina players are beside themselves with the call, but there's no VAR!

Replay shows it's very tight but Lisandro Martinez may have been just a hair off as he scrambled to reach the spill by the Guatemala goalkeeper.

41st min: Argentina have the ball in the net but it's waved off for the offside flag on Lionel Messi well before the strike. Give Guatemala goalkeeper Nicolas Hagen credit as he came off his line to stymie Messi one-on-one after the offside pass before play had been whistled dead. That's quite the save!

39th min: Penalty, Argentina! All the pressure has finally paid off! Wonderful combination play springs Valentin Carboni down the right edge of the penalty area, and his trailing defender Nicolas Samayoa produces a woeful tackle that gets none of the ball and completely upends the Argentine youngster.

Lautaro Martinez steps up to take the spot-kick, and...GOAL! ARGENTINA! He buries the low effort inside the left corner, and while Nicolas Hagen guesses correctly, he can't reach it!

36th min: Argentina are finally starting to take firm control of the match, forcing Guatemala deeper and deeper into their own defensive third.

Elmer Cardoza blocks a whipped cross that smacks him right in the gut and deflects out for a corner, and he requires treatment down on the end line, killing significant time before the set-piece can be taken. It's finally swung in and the goalkeeper punches clear. The game remains level for now but it's starting to feel like Guatemala's levee may be in danger of being breached.

29th min: A yellow card is shown to Marco Dominguez after he gets cooked by Lionel Messi and reacts by grabbing two fistfulls of the back of Messi's jersey. Sometimes you just get beat by the best player in the world.

Messi takes the free-kick from about 25 yards out, and it's the trademark left-footed curler he's world-famous for, but the ball starts too central and hooks a bit too much, ending up into the arms of the Guatemala goalkeeper.

24th min: Guatemala nearly work another good opportunity by sending a deep cross to the back post where Elmer Cardoza comes close to poking it in, but his slide is challenged well by an Argentine defender on the doorstep.

Guatemala have been brilliant so far, doing extremely well to elevate their intensity, defending well in a 4-5-1 structure and then countering with ferocity when given the chance.

21st min: The game's first yellow card is shown to Nicolas Otamendi who chops down Rubio Rubin to prevent a counter with a very late tackle. The 36-year-old veteran has been well off the pace today, and it would be surprising to see him starting at the Copa America after this performance, knowing he's also going to be playing at the Olympics later this summer.

15th min: Chance, Guatemala! The underdogs nearly go in front again, as Emi Martinez makes a possessional mistake of his own! He passes it right to Castellanos at the top of the penalty area, but on the Guatemala midfielder's attempt to chip it back over a scrambling Dibu, he sends it just inches over the crossbar!

How many errors are we going to see tonight in possession??

12th min: GOAL! ARGENTINA! Lionel Messi has punished an awful pass out of the back by the Guatemala goalkeeper, and Argentina are back level! It's a truly hideous pass from Nicolas Hagen, attempting to swing possession side-to-side by hitting it first time but completely scuffing the ball, sending it right to the Argentine superstar 8 yards from goal.

It's the easiest goal Messi will ever score in his career! Guatemala will be furious for seeing their shock lead squandered so tragically!

4th min: GOAL! GUATEMALA! ARGENTINA HAVE CONCEDED INSIDE THE OPENING FIVE MINUTES! Guatemala work their first possession forward and win a free-kick on a foul by Nicolas Otamendi shaded to the left of the penalty area. The delivery is brilliantly flicked on goal by Rubio Rubin, and while it's saved by Emi Martinez, the rebound is deflected by Lisandro Martinez into his own net!

It appears that Martinez and Otamendi both had an opportunity to clear the ball but were too slow. A stunning turn of events inside the opening five minutes!

Kickoff: They're underway outside the nation's capital! How sharp will Argentina look in their final match before the 2024 Copa America begins? It's Argentina's first attempt to defend a continental title in nearly 30 years, and they'll do so on U.S. soil.

Argentina vs. Guatemala: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: It will be interesting to see how many minutes Lionel Messi plays tonight. He's struggled through a host of muscle injuries over the last year, largely from overuse, and Lionel Scaloni will be very careful with him in a meaningless friendly before the tournament begins.

Seeing him come off at halftime would be reasonable, and anything more than an hour on the pitch would be very surprising and quite frankly cavalier from the Argentina head man.

30 mins to kickoff: The Guatemala lineup is now available, and it looks as if they'll be without Derby County winger Nathan Mendez-Laing who has chosen to take an early summer break before returning to club action. DC United full-back Aaron Herrera is also absent, missing out due to injury.

45 mins to kickoff: It's a packed house at Commanders Field tonight, and the fans are enjoying watching Argentina warm up!

1 hour to kickoff: The Argentina lineup is in, and just as has been reported, Lionel Messi starts alongside Lautaro Martinez up front, with the young Valentin Carboni in midfield. Oddly, Nico Gonzalez is starting as a left-back instead of his usual position as left winger, with Lionel Scaloni trialing a 4-4-2 diamond.

Nicolas Otamendi starts in defense, but will likely be a backup at Copa America since he is reportedly off to the Olympics as an overage player after the tournament, and those 36-year-old legs almost surely can't see him play regular minutes at both competitions.

1 hour 15 mins to kickoff: There is a report by, you guessed it, Gaston Edul, that states 19-year-old playmaker Valentin Carboni could get a significant look tonight, potential from the start. Carboni is an Inter Milan youth product but was loaned Monza last season where he scored two goals and assisted four in around 1,150 minutes of Serie A action.

Carboni has already made his senior international debut for Argentina back in a March friendly against Costa Rica, coming off the bench for eight minutes, but could get a much longer look tonight. It could be a chance not only to see what Carboni can bring to the national team, but also get him in the shop window ahead of a potential transfer this summer.

1 hour 30 mins to kickoff: With Lionel Scaloni looking to decide between Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez at striker for the Copa America run, it seems like the Inter Man will start tonight. Lautaro has struggled mightily in big games for the national team over his career, but coming off a Scudetto win in Italy while winning the Golden Boot in the process, he could be given the nod.

Alvarez will be right on his heels though, and should play a significant role in this tournament whether he's a regular starter or not. According to a report by in-the-know reporter Gaston Edul, there isn't room in the lineup for both, so Scaloni will be choosing between one or the each game.

1 hour 45 mins to kickoff: Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni's first match in charge of the Albiceleste came against Guatemala in 2018, where he steered his side to a 3-0 victory.

2 hours to kickoff: Lionel Messi came off the bench in the previous tune-up friendly against Ecuador, so the 36-year-old's status for this game remains unclear. Lionel Scaloni could choose to start him for a longer run-out to get him ready, or choose to rest him on the idea that Messi will be ready no matter how much he plays in the warm-ups.

It appears he has chosen the former, as Argentine journalist Gaston Edul reports that Messi will start the match. Still, we won't have that confirmed until lineups are released.

Argentina vs. Guatemala pre-match facts, figures

• These two nations have met twice previously, both in friendlies, with Argentina winning the two games by a combined 7-0 score. Lionel Messi took part in the first meeting back in 2013, scoring a hat-trick en route to a 4-0 Argentina win.
• Guatemala have had a triple-digit FIFA ranking since falling below the 100-mark in July of 2017. They have won seven of their last 12 competitive matches in CONCACAF play since the start of 2023, but have been less successful in friendlies, mostly against stronger competition, winning just one of their 11 friendlies in that same span, drawing five and losing five.
• Since Lionel Messi made his international debut in August of 2005, the lowest-ranked opponent to beat Argentina was 67th-ranked Poland back in June of 2011, a game in which Messi did not play. The lowest-ranked opponent to beat Argentina with Messi on the field was 56th-ranked Bolivia who shocked Argentina with a 6-1 home win in April of 2009.

Argentina vs. Guatemala lineups, team news, starting 11

Argentina's first pre-Copa America friendly against Ecuador saw a few first-choice regulars start on the bench, including Lionel Messi, Enzo Fernandez and Nico Gonzalez. It would track that Fernandez and Gonzalez would see the starting lineup here as they ramp up for the Copa, but it's unclear how much they will look to save Messi for the tournament itself.

Tenured center-back Nicolas Otamendi starts today, but will play second-fiddle at the Copa America behind Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez, since he's already been tabbed as an overage player for Olympic duty later this summer, and being a regular starter at both tournaments would be a massive load on the 36-year-old defender.

Argentina starting lineup (4-4-2 diamond): E. Martinez (GK) — Molina, Otamendi, Li. Martinez, N. Gonzalez — E. Fernandez, Carboni, Mac Allister, Lo Celso — Messi, La. Martinez.

Argentina subs (15): Armani (GK), Rulli (GK), Romero, Montiel, Quarta, Tagliafico, Palacios, G. Rodriguez, Paredes, De Paul, Barco, Garnacho, Correa, Di Maria, J. Alvarez.

It's not clear how much head coach Luis Fernando Tena will rotate his side for this friendly following a World Cup qualifying victory over British Virgin Islands last week.

American fans will recognize forward Rubio Rubin, a U.S. youth international born in Oregon who collected seven USMNT caps in 2018, all coming in international friendlies which did not cap-tie him to the United States. He would eventually make a one-time switch to Guatemala, earning 20 caps thus far since his debut in 2022.

Guatemala goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen is contracted to the Columbus Crew, having signed this past offseason, but has not seen a start yet, stuck behind first-choice regular Patrick Schulte.

Guatemala starting lineup (4-3-3): Hagen (GK) — Morales, Pinto, Samayoa, Ardon — Castellanos, Dominguez, Franco — Santis, Rubin, Cardoza.

Guatemala subs (12): Navarro (GK), Moscoso (GK), Yanes, Ruiz, Escobar, Galindo, Altan, Saravia, Mejia, Lom, E. Garcia, J. Martinez.

Argentina vs. Guatemala live stream, TV channel in USA

• Date: Saturday, Jun. 14, 2024
• Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
• TV Channel:
  • English: truTV
  • Spanish: Fox Deportes
• Streaming:

In the United States, this international friendly between Argentina and Guatemala will be televised in English on truTV, which can be found streaming on Sling as well as on Turner's in-house platform Max.

There is also a Spanish-language broadcast on Fox Deportes, which can be accessed via streaming on Fubo, who are offering a free trial for new users.

Unfortunately for fans around the globe, this match will not be accessible to watch in many other territories, including Australia, Canada, the UK, or India, as no rights-holders have been secured in those territories.