Lionel Messi broke Ángel Labruna’s record against Iceland

The Argentina national team finished its preparation with a signal that was as clear as expected: Lionel Messi once again left his mark and, with his goal against Iceland, surpassed a record that belonged to Ángel Labruna. In a friendly that closed the final tune-up ahead of the World Cup 2026, the Scaloneta also picked up a 3-0 win and added another positive note in the final stretch.

Messi, record and good feelings

The biggest story of the night was the usual one: Messi. The Argentina captain scored in the pre-World Cup friendly and, according to the report, overtook the historic mark of Ángel Labruna. It is another milestone in a career that continues to elevate his place in the grand history of the national team.

Beyond the numbers, the context also offered an encouraging reading for Lionel Scaloni: Argentina finished the rehearsal without any injuries and with the team showing continuity in its playing identity. In that roadmap, Messi’s presence remains central, not only for what he produces on the pitch, but also for the emotional lift he gives the group.

Messi looked “excited” and happy to “be able to play freely, shaking off my fears,” according to the context published after the friendly.

A Scaloneta arriving with positive signs

The win against Iceland left several takeaways for analysis, although the main one comes from the overall performance and the way the national team wrapped up its preparation. The reigning world champions approached this final stretch with their sights set on preserving their competitive base ahead of the title defense.

• 3-0 win in the friendly against Iceland.
• Lionel Messi scored and broke Ángel Labruna's record.
• The national team finished the rehearsal without new injuries.
• The squad maintained its playing identity in the closing stages of preparation.

At the same time, there were also storylines around individual names. Valentín Carboni was mentioned among the goalscorers in one of the match reports, while Thiago Almada was highlighted for his growing status with the national team.

What’s next for Argentina

With the final friendly now complete, the Argentina national team turns its attention to the World Cup opener and to sorting out the last details of the squad list. The latest information on the next step points to the debut against Argelia, with date, time and TV already on the radar in pre-match coverage.

In addition, the context also brought other specific news involving the Albiceleste squad: Julián Álvarez was again left out of a match because of ankle discomfort, while Sergio Romero appeared in a new role as commentator for the friendly.

The countdown is already underway. And if this final test proved anything, it is that Messi is still making the difference for the national team just as the moment to play for the biggest prize draws closer.