Argentina vs Burkina Faso: Argentina Thrash Burkina Faso 7-0 in International Friendly
The Argentina vs Burkina Faso international friendly turned into a one-sided contest as Argentina produced a stunning 7-0 victory at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on October 3, 2026. Lionel Scaloni’s side dominated the game from the opening whistle and finished the match with seven goals, underlining the huge difference in quality between the two teams.
The match was particularly significant because it came during Argentina’s first international window following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It was also the final Argentina appearance before Lionel Messi’s scheduled farewell match against Benin on October 6. Messi did not feature against Burkina Faso, with the Argentina captain’s farewell appearance being reserved for the upcoming game.
The victory also gave Argentina another convincing result after the team defeated Bolivia 4-0 in its previous friendly. The latest performance showed that Argentina’s next generation of attacking players can make a major impact even without Messi.
Argentina vs Burkina Faso Match Result
Argentina defeated Burkina Faso 7-0 in what was the first-ever meeting between the two national teams.
The scoring began in the fourth minute when Lautaro Martinez followed up after his penalty was saved and converted the rebound. Burkina Faso then conceded an own goal before Gianluca Prestianni added another goal.
Nico Paz and Julian Alvarez further extended Argentina’s advantage before half-time. The second half saw Franco Mastantuono and Giuliano Simeone complete the rout.
The official Argentine Football Association confirmed the final score as 7-0.
Argentina vs Burkina Faso Scorecard
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Argentina | 7 |
| Burkina Faso | 0 |
Argentina scorers: Lautaro Martinez, Moumouni Diallo own goal, Gianluca Prestianni, Nico Paz, Julian Alvarez, Franco Mastantuono, Giuliano Simeone.
Lautaro Martinez Opens the Scoring
Argentina needed only four minutes to break the deadlock.
Agustin Giay was brought down inside the penalty area and Lautaro Martinez stepped up to take the resulting penalty. Burkina Faso goalkeeper Razak Guira managed to save the initial effort, but Martinez reacted quickly and converted the rebound.
The early goal immediately put Argentina in control.
For Martinez, the goal was another important contribution during an international window in which Argentina have continued to rely on him as one of their main attacking options.
The early breakthrough also forced Burkina Faso to defend deeper, giving Argentina more space to control possession.
Burkina Faso Own Goal Adds to Argentina’s Advantage
Argentina doubled its lead in the eighth minute through an unfortunate own goal.
A move involving Argentina’s attacking players created pressure around the Burkina Faso defence, with Moumouni Diallo ultimately putting the ball into his own net.
At 2-0 down after only eight minutes, Burkina Faso faced a difficult task against a team that was already dominating possession and creating opportunities.
Argentina continued to attack rather than slow the game down.
Gianluca Prestianni Scores First Senior International Goal
The third goal arrived in the 12th minute.
Lautaro Martinez provided the assist for Gianluca Prestianni, who finished from inside the penalty area to make it 3-0.
The goal was particularly important for Prestianni because it marked his first senior international goal for Argentina.
The young forward’s performance will attract attention as Argentina continue to develop players who can eventually take greater responsibility in the national team.
With Messi entering the final stage of his international career, the emergence of young attacking talent has become increasingly important for Scaloni.
Nico Paz and Julian Alvarez Make It 5-0
Argentina continued its relentless attacking performance after the third goal.
Nico Paz scored in the 35th minute before Julian Alvarez found the net just one minute later.
The two goals effectively ended the contest before half-time.
Argentina went into the break with a commanding 5-0 advantage, having completely controlled the first half.
Sky Sports’ match data shows Argentina recorded 75 percent possession and 30 shots during the game, compared with only three shots for Burkina Faso.
Franco Mastantuono Adds Another Goal
Argentina continued to attack after the interval.
Franco Mastantuono scored in the 57th minute to make the score 6-0.
The young player is among the emerging names expected to have an important role in Argentina’s future.
The goal was another indication of the depth available to Scaloni. Even without Messi, Argentina were able to field a squad capable of creating numerous chances and scoring freely.
Giuliano Simeone Completes 7-0 Victory
The final goal arrived deep into stoppage time.
Giuliano Simeone scored in the 90+3rd minute to complete Argentina’s 7-0 victory.
The Atletico Madrid forward’s late goal ensured that Argentina finished the evening with seven goals.
It was a fitting ending to an impressive performance in front of the home supporters at the Monumental.
Argentina Dominates Match Statistics
The numbers demonstrate just how one-sided the game was.
Argentina finished with 75 percent possession, while Burkina Faso managed just 25 percent. Argentina also produced 30 shots compared with three from their opponents.
The South American champions recorded 17 shots on target and completed 819 accurate passes, while Burkina Faso managed 197 accurate passes.
| Match Statistic | Argentina | Burkina Faso |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 75% | 25% |
| Total shots | 30 | 3 |
| Shots on target | 17 | 1 |
| Corners | 7 | 1 |
| Accurate passes | 819 | 197 |
These statistics highlight Argentina’s complete control throughout the match.
Lionel Messi Did Not Play
One of the biggest talking points before the Argentina vs Burkina Faso match was the absence of Lionel Messi.
Messi was not included in the team for this fixture because Argentina’s upcoming match against Benin on October 6 has been arranged as his farewell appearance for the national team.
The Argentine Football Association has confirmed that the Burkina Faso game was the second match of a three-game international schedule, with the final fixture against Benin taking place at the Monumental.
Messi’s absence provided Scaloni with an opportunity to give greater responsibility to younger players.
The result suggests Argentina’s squad has enough attacking depth to remain competitive as the team begins preparing for the post-Messi era.
Burkina Faso Faced a Difficult Situation
Burkina Faso’s preparation for the friendly was reportedly complicated by travel disruption and internal issues.
Reports before the game suggested that several senior players had concerns about travelling to Argentina, with the African side ultimately fielding an alternative squad containing many younger players.
That situation clearly affected the competitive balance of the fixture.
Argentina entered the match with a strong squad, while Burkina Faso’s lineup was heavily affected by the circumstances surrounding the trip.
As a result, the 7-0 scoreline needs to be viewed in the context of the teams’ respective lineups and preparation.
Argentina’s Strong Start After World Cup
The victory over Burkina Faso follows Argentina’s 4-0 win against Bolivia.
In that earlier match, goals came from Lautaro Martinez, Nico Paz, Cristian Romero and Jose Manuel Lopez.
Two consecutive victories provide Scaloni with plenty of positives as Argentina begin a new international cycle.
The biggest question will be how the team develops after Messi’s farewell.
Argentina’s current squad still includes experienced players such as Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Cristian Romero, while younger players including Nico Paz, Prestianni, Mastantuono and Simeone are beginning to make their presence felt.
What Comes Next for Argentina?
Argentina’s next match will be against Benin on October 6, 2026, at the Monumental Stadium.
The fixture will receive enormous attention because it is expected to be Lionel Messi’s farewell match for Argentina.
Messi was called up for the farewell appearance after announcing his international retirement, making the game one of the most anticipated events for Argentine football supporters.
The 7-0 victory over Burkina Faso therefore served as an important preparation match before the emotional farewell.
Argentina vs Burkina Faso: Key Takeaways
There were several major talking points from the match:
- Argentina won 7-0 at the Monumental.
- Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring.
- Gianluca Prestianni scored his first senior international goal.
- Nico Paz and Julian Alvarez scored before half-time.
- Franco Mastantuono and Giuliano Simeone completed the second-half scoring.
- Lionel Messi did not play.
- Argentina dominated possession and shots.
- Burkina Faso used an alternative, youth-heavy squad.
- The match was Argentina’s final game before Messi’s farewell.
- Argentina will face Benin on October 6.
Final Verdict
The Argentina vs Burkina Faso friendly ended with a dominant 7-0 victory for Argentina, giving Lionel Scaloni plenty of reasons to be satisfied.
Although the match was not a competitive tournament fixture, Argentina’s attacking performance was impressive. The emergence of young players such as Gianluca Prestianni, Nico Paz, Franco Mastantuono and Giuliano Simeone was arguably as important as the final score.
The absence of Messi also provided a glimpse into Argentina’s future. The team did not depend on its legendary captain to create chances or score goals, with seven different scoring contributions demonstrating the depth available to Scaloni.
At the same time, Burkina Faso’s depleted and alternative squad means the result should not be interpreted as a complete measure of the gap between the two national teams.
For Argentina, however, the timing could hardly have been better. After consecutive victories over Bolivia and Burkina Faso, the team now turns its attention to the emotional occasion of Lionel Messi’s farewell against Benin.
The 7-0 win at the Monumental will therefore be remembered not only as a huge friendly victory but also as one of the first major glimpses of Argentina’s next generation after the Messi era.