All eyes on Messi – but don’t forget the supporting cast

As world footballing hotbeds go, College Station, Texas, and Auburn, Alabama are not exactly the first names that spring to mind, unless you are talking about the egg-shaped variant where use of the foot is much sparser. But those two iconic college American Football towns played host to Argentina in their final warm-ups before the World Cup begins in earnest for the Albiceleste next week, with plenty of good news coming out of wins against Honduras and Iceland these last few days.

Okay, yes, we are going to add the standard qualifier: the quality of opposition Argentina are likely to face in the United States, particularly once (we hope) they progress from Group J by the end of June and move on to the knockout phase.

The clash against Honduras in particular was at the level of a neighbourhood kickaround. Only one of the starting XI, Palmeiras right-back Agustin Giay, was still on the pitch by the time the final whistle sounded, and first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez could be found snapping photos as he embedded himself with the cameramen to get a privileged view of the action, one would hope without aggravating his broken finger through over-zealous use of the shutter. But on the field at least Argentina were up to the slightly subdued occasion, cruising to victory via a Lautaro Martínez penalty and Giuliano Simeone’s goal while dominating from start to finish.

Iceland at least promised to be slightly tougher opposition but they too fell victim to a much slicker performance from the Albiceleste. Argentina once more showed the superiority expected of them in such a one-sided matchup, going ahead just eight minutes in with a typically spectacular effort from Valentín Barco. The most warming sight of the evening, and indeed this entire week, came in the 17th minute when Lionel Messi emerged off the bench following an injury lay-off, and the captain needed barely 60 seconds to get on the scoresheet from the penalty spot.

A delightful collective move rounded off by Thiago Almada was the cherry on top of an accomplished run through these last two games by Argentina, who go in to next Tuesday’s World Cup opener with seven straight wins, 21 goals and just one conceded – proof the holders are in good shape still despite several medical woes.

Seeing Messi back in action is the most welcome of images for any Argentine. But it is perhaps just as significant that five different players netted in these friendly wins, showing that just like in 2022 the team can hurt opponents from anywhere on the pitch.

Somewhat lost in the overwhelming ‘Leo’s World Cup’ narrative four years ago was the contribution made by those around the talisman, from youthful new faces like Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Julián Álvarez, to veteran on a charge Ángel Di María. And while repeating the same inferior opposition caveat for the millionth time, we saw in Texas and Alabama that there are plenty of candidates to become Messi’s latest World Cup partner-in-crime.

Almada, for one, has been arguably Argentina’s most dangerous offensive player for a good part of the last two years. Barco is somewhat of an unknown quantity, but had a superb season in France and provides the attacking thrust from the left that is needed now Di María has gone. Giay just might start this tournament given the Albiceleste’s issues on the right and they would be no worse off for that. And of course, when Lautaro is on his game, and he must be desperate to atone for a mediocre run last time in Qatar, the reigning World Cup holders can outgun pretty much anyone on the planet.

So, unknown quantity? A bit, perhaps. But that will only make getting to know this team more entertaining as it tests itself against the world’s best once again. We are in for some great football, and who knows, perhaps the fourth star is written in the stars for Leo and his very capable team-mates.