Messi puts finishing touches on Argentina’s rout of Bolivia

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  • Fans wait to see the Argentina team take the field before a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston. Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / 2015 Houston Chronicle

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Fans wait to see the Argentina team take the field before a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina forward Lionel Messi dribbles a ball before a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina forward Lionel Messi watches his team warm up before a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


A young fan watches the teams warm up before a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Logan Brown holds a card of Argentina forward Lionel Messi as he waits for autographs before a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Fans wait to see the Argentina team take the field before a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Bryce Nelson waits with other fans to see the Argentina team take the field before a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi is congratulated by forward Nicolas Gaitan after scoring a goal during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Fans cheer from the upper deck during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


dArgentina defender Milton Casco moves the ball during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina forward Sergio Aguero is congratulated by midfielder Roberto Pereyra after scoring a goal during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina forward Sergio Aguero shoots downfield during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina defender Emanuel Mas goes for a header against Bolivia defender Marcelo Martins during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


An Argentina fan watches game action during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi shoots on the goal, scoring his second of the half, during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina defender Emanuel Mas moves the ball forward against Bolivia defender Juan Carlos Arce during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina midfielder Matias Kranevitter moves the ball forward against Bolivia midfielder Danny Bejarno during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi moves the ball forward during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Bolivia defender Edward Zenteno battles Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi for possession during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina forward Nicolas Gaitan battles Bolivia midfielder Danny Bejarano for possession during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina forward Sergio Aguero moves the ball forward before scoring a goal during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina forward Sergio Aguero scores a goal against Bolivia goalkeeper Daniel Vaca during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentina forward Sergio Agero is congratulated by forward Ezequiel Lavezzi after scoring a goal during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Fans cheer as the Argentina team leaves the field before a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle


Argentia forward Ezequiel Lavezzi is congratulated by teammates defender Milton Casco and defender Emanuel Mas after scoring the first goal during the first half of a friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia, at BBVA Compass Stadium, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Houston.


Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle



The match had long been decided by the time the legendary forward Lionel Messi rose from the Argentine bench Friday night, inciting a thunderous roar while lifting the raucous crowd to its feet in the 54th minute.

Almost immediately, the crowd at BBVA Compass Stadium began to serenade the FC Barcelona superstar with chants of "Messi! Messi! Messi!" as he warmed up to enter Argentina's eventual 7-0 rout of Bolivia.

Messi then scored two goals before a pro-Argentina sellout crowd of 22,126, which included U.S. women's national team superstar Carli Lloyd, Dynamo president Chris Canetti and Dynamo general manager Matt Jordan.

"It's not every day that you get to see arguably the best player of all time in your home stadium in our city," Jordan said. "It was a real pleasure."

After the match, Messi signed one of his blue Argentina No. 10 jerseys for Lloyd, who wear's the same elite number for the U.S. national team.

Lloyd smiled with pride as she read Messi's message to her: "To Carli, with lots of love."

The referee ended the match in the 88th minute, two minutes shy of regulation, even though FIFA regulations call for 90 minutes. Moreover, stoppage time could have been expected considering two fans invaded the pitch during the game.

Several fans also rushed on the field after the final whistle, sending the security personnel into a mad scramble.

Messi, however, rewarded one of the pitch invaders by posing with him for a selfie as security officers rushed him out.

Messi, who is compared favorably to Brazilian great Pele and Argentina's legend Diego Maradona, didn't disappoint once he took the pitch.

Messi entered the match in the 65th minute and scored the first of his two goals in 66th minute, rising above a much taller defender to head the ball into the back of the net to give Argentina a 5-0 lead.

"It's not every day that you get to see arguably the best player of all time in your home stadium in our city," Dynamo general manager Matt Jordan said. "It was a real pleasure."

The 5-foot-7 Messi added his second goal of the match in the 76th minute while showcasing his extraordinary touch on the ball.

The four-time World Player of the Year received a pass from Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, took his first touch with his right foot inside the box and then another touch with his left foot to maneuver smoothly around goalkeeper Daniel Vaca before easily slotting the ball into the empty net to give Argentina a 6-0 lead.

Messi, who is second all-time in goals scored for Argentina's national team with 48, is six goals shy of Gabriel Batistuta's all-time record.

"You just saw his class," Jordan said. "He was hands down above everybody else the second he stepped on the field."

jesus.ortiz@chron.com

twitter.com/OrtizKicks


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