Argentina vs Bolivia:Argentina returned to international football after the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a convincing 4-0 victory over Bolivia in Córdoba. The friendly at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes gave Argentina an opportunity to begin a new phase after their World Cup campaign, while Bolivia were looking to test themselves against one of South America’s strongest teams.
Argentina vs Bolivia: The match produced four goals, with Lautaro Martínez, Nico Paz, Cristian Romero and José Manuel López getting on the scoresheet. Argentina controlled much of the game and created several opportunities, while Bolivia struggled to create the same level of attacking threat.
Argentina vs Bolivia: Argentina Make a Strong Start
Argentina vs Bolivia: Argentina did not take long to find their rhythm. From the opening stages, the home side looked comfortable in possession and moved the ball quickly through midfield.
Argentina vs Bolivia: Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring in the 19th minute. The forward finished an attacking move after receiving a pass from Alexis Mac Allister, giving Argentina an early advantage.
Argentina vs Bolivia: The early goal allowed Argentina to play with greater freedom. Bolivia attempted to stay compact, but Argentina continued to control possession and push forward.
The second goal arrived in the 29th minute, and it was one of the standout moments of the match.
Nico Paz Takes Centre Stage
Argentina vs Bolivia: Nico Paz was one of the biggest talking points of the night. The young attacking midfielder scored Argentina’s second goal and later provided an assist for Cristian Romero.
Argentina vs Bolivia: Paz found the net in the 29th minute after receiving the ball from Exequiel Palacios. His finish gave Argentina a 2-0 lead before half-time.
Argentina vs Bolivia: His performance attracted particular attention because Argentina are beginning a new period following the 2026 World Cup. Several reports highlighted Paz’s performance as an important part of the team’s transition.
Argentina vs Bolivia: Rather than relying on one player, Argentina showed that they have several attacking options capable of contributing. Paz’s movement between the lines created problems for Bolivia’s defence throughout the first half.
Argentina went into the break with a comfortable 2-0 advantage.
Bolivia Struggle to Find a Way Back
Bolivia tried to respond after half-time, but Argentina continued to control the game.
Argentina vs Bolivia: The visitors found it difficult to keep possession for long periods and struggled to create clear opportunities in front of goal. Argentina’s pressure and passing kept Bolivia deep inside their own half for much of the match.
Argentina vs Bolivia: The statistics also reflected Argentina’s control. Argentina finished with around 69 percent possession and registered 18 shots, while Bolivia had around 31 percent possession and four shots. Argentina also recorded six shots on target compared with none from Bolivia.
The difference became even clearer as the second half progressed.
Cristian Romero Makes It 3-0
Argentina extended their advantage in the 54th minute through Cristian Romero.
The defender headed home after a delivery from Nico Paz, making it 3-0. It was another example of Argentina’s ability to create danger from different situations rather than depending only on their forwards.
With a three-goal lead, Argentina made several substitutions and managed the rest of the game. Players including Franco Mastantuono, Valentín Barco and Leonardo Balerdi were introduced as the coaching staff used the friendly to give minutes to different members of the squad.
Bolivia continued to work hard, but Argentina remained in control.
José Manuel López Completes the Scoreline
The final goal came late in the match.
José Manuel López scored in the 86th minute to make it 4-0. The substitute forward finished the evening’s scoring and gave Argentina an emphatic result in their first match of this international window.
For López, the goal was also significant on a personal level. It was his first goal for Argentina after eight appearances, according to reports, and he also had two assists during the match sequence.
The final whistle confirmed a comfortable 4-0 victory for the home side.
A Different Argentina Without Messi
One of the major storylines around the match was Lionel Messi’s absence.
Argentina played the game without Messi, who had already announced his international retirement following the World Cup. Reports have said that Messi is expected to make a final appearance for Argentina against Benin on October 6.
That made the match against Bolivia particularly interesting because attention naturally turned toward the players who could take greater responsibility in the next phase of the national team.
Nico Paz was one of the players who stood out. His goal and assist gave Argentina an important attacking contribution, while established players such as Lautaro Martínez and Cristian Romero also played key roles.
What the Result Means for Argentina
Although this was a friendly and not a competitive tournament match, the 4-0 result gives Argentina a positive start to the new international window.
The team is coming off a World Cup final appearance and now has to prepare for a different period in which younger players are expected to take on bigger roles.
Argentina’s schedule during this international window includes further friendly matches against Burkina Faso and Benin. The three-match series provides the coaching staff with an opportunity to assess players and combinations ahead of future competitions.
The result against Bolivia also gives the team confidence after a difficult World Cup final defeat against Spain.
Bolivia Have Work to Do
For Bolivia, the 4-0 defeat was a difficult result, particularly because Argentina controlled both possession and territory for long stretches.
Bolivia had recently lost 2-0 to Paraguay before facing Argentina, and the team will need to use these matches as preparation for its upcoming international schedule.
Playing against a strong Argentina side can nevertheless provide useful experience for Bolivia’s players. The challenge now will be to identify the areas that need improvement, particularly in possession, defensive organisation and creating chances.
Final Takeaway
Argentina’s 4-0 victory over Bolivia was more than just a comfortable friendly win. It was also an early look at how the national team can move forward after the 2026 World Cup.
Lautaro Martínez gave Argentina the early breakthrough, Nico Paz added a goal and assist, Cristian Romero strengthened the lead and José Manuel López completed the scoring late in the game.
The performance also gave attention to a younger generation of Argentine players. With Messi’s international career coming to an end, performances from players such as Nico Paz will naturally receive more attention.
For now, Argentina can take the 4-0 result as a positive beginning to their post-World Cup schedule, while Bolivia will look to learn from the experience and prepare for their next international fixtures
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