Lautaro and Simeone see Argentina past Honduras as Messi waits on the bench

Argentina got the job done without their captain on the pitch, beating Honduras 2-0 at Kyle Field in College Station on Saturday in the first of two send-off friendlies before the World Cup. Lautaro Martinez scored from the spot in the first half and set up Giuliano Simeone for the second after the break, while Lionel Messi watched the whole thing from the bench.

Lautaro leads from the front

With Messi held back, the responsibility fell to Lautaro, and he carried it. The Inter forward opened the scoring in the 37th minute from the penalty spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way after Nicolas Tagliafico had been bundled over inside the box. It was a calm finish on a night when Argentina were rarely troubled but took their time to break a stubborn Honduras down.

The second arrived nine minutes into the second half and was the better goal by some distance. Lautaro collected the ball with his back to goal, waited for the run, and slipped a backheel into the path of Simeone, who steadied himself and beat the keeper. Two goals, one assist, and a reminder that Argentina’s attack runs deep even with the famous number ten in a tracksuit.

No rush with Messi

Messi stayed on the bench for the full ninety, and that was always the plan rather than a late call. The 38-year-old has been managing a leg problem he picked up in his final Inter Miami game before the international window, and Lionel Scaloni has made no secret of his intention to bring his captain back slowly. Argentina made a round of changes once they were two goals clear, but Messi was not among them.

For a friendly that decided nothing, that caution makes sense. Argentina do not begin their title defence until June 16, when they meet Algeria in Kansas City, and there is another tune-up to come against Iceland before then. Scaloni would rather have a fresh Messi for the group stage than a half-fit one for a warm-up in Texas, and the depth on show on Saturday means he can afford to wait.

A useful run-out for the fringe

The night also handed minutes to players still pressing for a role. Simeone’s goal was the kind of moment that sticks in a coach’s mind, and the move that built it showed an attack capable of hurting teams in more than one way. Honduras, for their part, stayed organised for long stretches and will take something from keeping the score down against the world champions, even if the result was rarely in doubt once Lautaro converted his penalty.

Argentina leave Texas with the win, a clean sheet and no fresh injury worries, which is about all you can ask of a friendly this close to a major tournament. The bigger questions, including exactly how Scaloni eases Messi back into the side, wait for another day.

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