On June 15th at 8 am, Argentina travels to face Guatemala in their second friendly match, with high hopes of victory given their opponent’s low world ranking of 108th.
Since winning the 2022 World Cup, Argentina has reclaimed the world number one spot and went on a 14-match winning streak before losing 0-2 to Uruguay in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup South American qualifiers. Since the second group stage match of the World Cup, Argentina has played 19 games, securing an impressive 18 wins and one loss, boasting a 94.7% win rate.
In 2024, Argentina has participated in three friendlies, defeating El Salvador 3-0, Costa Rica 3-1, and Ecuador 1-0. However, Messi missed the March international fixtures due to injury and made his return against Ecuador, coming off the bench without scoring.
For Messi, the objective is to regain form ahead of the Copa América and chase a significant record – scoring in 19 consecutive calendar years for the national team since his debut in 2006. As Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with 106 goals in 181 appearances, both records are unmatched. Nevertheless, Messi trails rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the international goal-scoring charts, who has netted 130 goals.
Messi, having already won the World Cup, now focuses on team accolades, leading Argentina to defend their Copa América title, replicating Spain’s major tournament treble. Facing a relatively weak Guatemala, the match presents an opportunity for the Albiceleste to build form.
Guatemala, ranked 108th by FIFA, is considered a minnow in world football. In their last 10 matches, they have managed only two wins, four draws, and four losses, including defeats to Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Iceland, and Ecuador. Although they secured victories over Dominica (6-0) and British Virgin Islands (3-0), these results carry limited significance against weaker opponents.
Argentina has won nine of its last 10 matches, boasting a 90% win rate, scoring 17 goals while conceding only three and keeping eight clean sheets. Defense is key to Argentina’s success. Besides Messi, Angel Di Maria’s form also needs improvement; the fact that he found the back of the net in the last game is encouraging for Argentina.
Historically, Argentina has a commanding record against Guatemala, winning all three encounters with scores of 5-0, 4-0, and 3-0, scoring 12 goals without conceding. The psychological advantage is firmly in Argentina’s favor.
>>”> For more match predictions and analysis, please visit >>>