Russia 2018 World Cup: Messi scores hat-trick as Argentina hammer Haiti in warm-up match

Super Eagles Russia 2018 World Cup Group D opponents, Argentina, stepped up their preparation for the Mundial with a 4-0 win over Haiti in a friendly game in the early hours of Wednesday (Nigerian time) in Buenos Aires

Barcelona star and La Albiceleste captain, Lionel Messi, scored an hat-trick to take his international tally to 64 goals in 124 appearances.

He also set up Manchester City’s striker Sergio Aguero who came on for Gonzalo Higuain in the second half to score the fourth goal in the 69th minute.

Messi broke the deadlock in the 17th minute converting a penalty after Lo Celso was brought down in the penalty area under a rash challenge from Ricardo Ade.

In the second half, Messi made it 2-0 in the 58th minute side-footing in a rebound after Lo Celso’s close-range header was blocked.

The Barca star grabbed his hat-trick eight minutes later firing in a cut back pass from Cristian Pavon.

Argentina, 2014 World Cup finalists, will face Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in Group D in Russia.

The two time World Cup winners, will face Israel in another international friendly on June 9 before starting their World Cup campaign against Iceland seven days later.

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