The Match That Made Argentine Players Die or Kill for Lionel Messi

And a very good evening to you from the Juan de Metropolitano in Madrid, Argentina and Venezuela with two friendlies left ahead of this summer's Copa America. Plenty of players not available for them here tonight but a real chance for Scaloni to take a look at a new generation and who knows to maybe back a new generation as well. Our referee is Jose Sanchez Martinez. So Messi will move forward with Argentina. That side is well represented here, not surprisingly. Yann Gallarera, who starts in the midfield, was captain of that team. Here's Messi though, looking for Gonzalo Pitti Martinez. Wonderful campaign in the Under-20 World Cup, more will be expected, brings an extra pressure for him. Good ball over the top, huge international career. Scaloni wanted his team tested, he's getting his team tested. Played Morocco in Tangiers at the start of next week. Venezuela go to Girona to play Catalonia. Paredes settled at Paris Saint-Germain. And towards Messi. Soft free kick picked up by Pitti Martinez. Better though from Argentina. Does Messi fancy it? He does, and he wins a corner. I think he was going for placement there, Lionel Messi. Not sure. There's Lo Celso. Feel at home here. La Liga player with Real Betis, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain. Pitti Martinez, a bit better this. This is Lissandro Martinez. What he slipped and could do was scoop the cross. Experience of playing for the national side. Difficult for him. He has had a lot of joy and success, just hasn't won anything. There's Lo Celso. It's a great idea there from Messi. We saw Pitti Martinez. A risky bit of goalkeeping. Now Messi. There's Lo Celso. Pitti Martinez. Now Lionel Messi. Came there. One win against Argentina in Puerto La Cruz. A 1-0 victory. Lost 21 of 24 against Argentina. And here goes Lionel Messi. And that's a wonderful ball in. And Lautaro Martinez, his header, is quite brilliantly saved. By Wilker Fariñez. It was all about Messi. And Martinez did nothing wrong either. It's just a terrific save from a talented young goalkeeper as Messi turns on the style. The other impressive thing about the save is it's going low and he manages somehow to get it up and over the crossbar. It was not an easy height. Messi now with the corner. I just wonder if he's starting to warm to the task. I think he is. Here he comes again. Messi did well to stay on his feet and then just couldn't pick the pass. But the last two minutes have been a masterclass. This is just glorious from Messi. And just when you wonder if it was going nowhere, he finds that little bit of space. In comes the corner. Two of them had a swing. Voigt got the clearer view but couldn't make contact. Here's Pity Martinez. Lautaro Martinez ahead of him. Messi too. It's Lionel Messi! Good quick feet from Fariñez. Saw the danger, saw what Messi was trying to do. Nothing wrong with the execution. But a very good young goalkeeper. Here's Lo Celso. Pity Gonzalez. Natalia Fico. Good burst forward by Lionel Messi. Messi. Natalia Fico. Back with Lionel Messi. Floated in gloriously again for Lautaro Martinez. That was a harder chance. Two-headed opportunities for Lautaro Martinez. Missed with a header. Just onside. Saw it late. Dylan Waver just struggling. Quickly by Venezuela. Rio with a chance to cut inside! Messi might be an Argentine international still, but he has to put plenty right in this second half. Montiel. And Messi. Gets it back from Suarez. Blanco and Suarez and Messi. And Suarez again. This is much better. Ricocheted around. In the end it's behind for a corner. Right at the heart of it was Domingo Blanco. Good running from Suarez. Pullback for Lautaro Martinez. Away by Natalia Fico. That's a poor clearance that falls for Messi. Runners with him. Lautaro Martinez arrives in the middle! And suddenly there is hope. Fell asleep after maybe being a little overambitious. I would argue if that sweetly it might have gone at the goalkeeper. But it is. Messi. Another fabulous pass for Suarez! Who nearly tees up Lautaro for his second. Suddenly it's all Argentina. Overgoes Rincon cleverly. And Lautaro is straight in at the referee. Lautaro. Looked like he was caught late there. By Osorio. Montiel just walking the tightrope out there. And Messi. Lovely swivel of the hips and then Lautaro Martinez slipped. Has been that kind of surface. Run back aggressively there by Paredes. And now it's Suarez for Lautaro! The flag was up against Lautaro Martinez. Again these little pockets of joy and wonder from Argentina. And they do get it right. 20 minutes remain. Messi for Benedetto. Problem for Argentina is the headlines and so on around the world. I wonder how much this has got to do with the first one not being given. But actually when you see it again. Having overruled the captain. Here's his moment! Now Messi. Now it falls for Lionel Messi again. Hooked away by Rosales. Paulo Dybala still not introduced. 10 minutes remain. Can they save themselves and save the newspaper headlines and the criticism that will come? Forward by Messi. Foul again by Villanueva. Were this a club game? How important does that save from Fariñez in the first half from Lautaro look as well? After the Messi brilliance. That would have been 1-1. It might have been a very different story. Goes to the goal himself! I think Fariñez got a touch. Referee says no. Can't deny Venezuela. Unless Argentina can in these final five. Given away to Messi. And floated in for Benedetto. It's another big chance. What they don't have is a tall, if you like, traditional centre-forward. Well, they do have one but he's currently saying he's out with injury. Here's Messi. Shuttling running style. Wins the free kick anyway. Juan P. The latest to be booked. He has to book players for things like that. It's actually been a good refereeing display, albeit maybe a mistake, not awarding a penalty for a foul on Darwin Machis, but certainly right to then award one for the foul on Martínez, which Venezuela can see way back. There it goes from Messi. They're arguing that Fariñez got a touch, very similar to the previous one. But there is the final whistle. What a night for Venezuela. But this amongst their most famous nights. Salomon Rondon led the way, six minutes in and set the tone as well. Substitute Josef Martínez, fouled by Juan P. who slotted home a confident penalty. Venezuela thoroughly deserved the victory. Only their second ever against Argentina. The goalkeeper Fariñez was excellent as well. But there is clearly work to do for Lionel Scaloni and these young players. And Lionel Messi knows that all too well.