To celebrate Angola’s 50th Independence Anniversary, the Central African country reportedly paid $12 million to Argentina to play a friendly game against the South American nation who are the reigning FIFA World Cup Champions.
However, Angola lost 2-0 to Argentina at the packed out November 11 Stadium that had a little over 50,000 people in attendance headlined by Angola President Joao Lourenco.
Argentine star Lionel Messi and Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez scored in the win with both players also providing an assist on either’s goal.
Messi scored in the 82nd minute after planting the ball into the net with a neat finish and was replaced in the 86th minute by Joaquin Panichelli to a standing ovation.
In 86 minutes, the 38 year old registered five total shots that had one attempt blocked, another missed and two on target while completing 39 of 49 passes.
Messi returns to Inter Miami where he is expected to feature in the club’s Eastern Conference Playoffs semifinals against FC Cincinnati in the MLS
