Lionel Messi had to play against Bolivia – Argentina’s Gerardo Martino

Sport360 staff 10:48 05/09/2015
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  • Unleash the beast: Lionel Messi.

    Argentina coach Gerardo Martino admitted he had little choice but to unleash Lionel Messi in the second half of his side's rout of Bolivia in Houston.

    The Albiceleste led 4-0, through two goals apiece from Ezequiel Lavezzi and the outstanding Sergio Aguero, even before Messi entered the fray in the 65th minute.

    The Barcelona star quickly added two more before debutant Angel Correa completed a 7-0 win.

    Messi's playing time was carefully restricted by Martino due to concerns over the four-time Ballon d'Or winner's busy schedule.

    But as the national team continue to take their friendlies to new audiences outside of their homeland, Martino accepts he must give the people what they want.

    The crowd of 22,126 chanted Messi's name as soon as he left the dug-out to warm up and Martino told reporters after the game: "It is logical that the people who pay for tickets call for Messi and the organisers of the games want to see him.

    "We had to think carefully about him because he has played a lot of games. Luckily, in a short time, he made it worth the price of admission."

    Messi's Argentina goal tally for his country now stands at 48, second in their all-time list, and Martino added: "I'm sure he will catch (Gabriel) Batistuta as the team's leading scorer."

    Batistuta's record is 56 goals. Aguero, meanwhile, moved level with Diego Maradona for fourth place on the list.

    "I know that equals Diego in the table of top scorers in the team and that makes me happy," the Manchester City man, who also created both Lavezzi goals and one for Messi, said on the Argentinian Football Association's website.

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    Asked about the possibility of outscoring Messi over their respective international careers, though, Aguero joked: "For that, he will have to stop playing."

    Martino was delighted with his side's display in the first game of a double-header, and could opt to assess several different players during Tuesday's clash with Mexico in Arlington, Texas.

    "I'm happy with the intensity with which we played, both the guys who started and those who played part of the game," he said.

    "It is a good result and helps me form an idea (of my regular team), but nobody will be ruled in or out based on a single game.

    "On Tuesday we will see how the team changes. The idea is to play everyone (over the two games) but I have not yet decided my team.

    "( Ezequiel) Garay, ( Pablo) Zabaleta, ( Lucas) Biglia, ( Javier) Pastore, (Gonzalo) Higuain and ( Angel) Di Maria are in my squad but I will have to see how they recover from their injuries.

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