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Friendlies: Lionel Messi-Less Argentina Beat El Salvador 3-0 - In Pics

No Lionel Messi, no problem. Argentina brushed off the absence of✨ their captain and star player with an easy win. The 2022 FIFA World Cup-winners comfortably defeated El Salvador 3-0 in their first match of 2024, an international friendly, courtesy goals from Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernandez and Giovani Lo Celso. Argentina took the lead in the 16th minute with a strong header from Romero. Three minutes before the end of first half, Fernandes doubled the lead with a strike from close range. Lo Celso scored the third and final goal of the match seven minutes into the secon♑d half. The world champion side will next take on Costa Rica in Los Angeles.

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Friendlies: Lionel Messi-Less Argentina Beat El Salvador 3-0 - In Pics
🥂International Friendlies: Argentina vs El Salvador | Photo: AP/Matt Slocum

El Salvador's Mario Gonzalez, center, canꦛnot block a goal by Argentina's Enzo Fernandez during the first half of a friendly soccer🍌 match in Philadelphia.

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International Friendlies: Argentina vs El Salvador
International Friendlies: Argen📖tina vs El Salvador | Photo: AP/Matt Slocum

Argentina's Giovani Lo Celso, right, an✤d El Salvador's Bryan Tamacas battle for the ball during the first half of a friendly soccer match in Philadelphia.

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International Friendlies: Argentina vs El Salvador
Internat♊ional Friendlies: Argentina vs El🗹 Salvador | Photo: AP/Matt Slocum

Argentina's Nicolas Gonzalꦆez, left, collides with El Salvador's Bryan Tamacas during the f🅺irst half of a friendly soccer match in Philadelphia.

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International Friendlies: Argentina vs El Salvador
International Friꦿendlies: Argentina vs El Salvador | Photo: AP/Matt Slocum

Argentina's Alejandro Garnacho, right, takes a shot against El Salvadꦅor' Jorg🌊e Cruz during the second half of a friendly soccer match in Philadelphia.

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International Friendlies: Argentina vs El Salvador
International Friendl🍸ies: Argentina vs El Salvador | Photo: AP/Matt Slocum

Argentina's Lautaro Martinez, left, and El Sal🐎vador's Mario Gonzalez chase a shot during the second half of a friendly soccer ꦗmatch in Philadelphia.

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International Friendlies: Argentina vs El Salvador
🐻International Friendlies: Argentina vs El🔯 Salvador | Photo: AP/Matt Slocum

Argentina's Giovani Lo Celso reacts after scoring a𝔉 goal during the second hal𒀰f of a friendly soccer match against El Salvador in Philadelphia.

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International Friendlies: Argentina vs El Salvador
International Friendౠ♛lies: Argentina vs El Salvador | Photo: AP/Matt Slocum

Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi, left, and El Salvador's Darwin Ceren battle for the ball during ✨the second half of a friendly in Philadelphia.

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International Friendlies: Argentina vs El Salvador
International🐈 Friendlies: Argentina vs El Salvador | Photo: AP/Matt Slocum

El Salvador's Mario Gonzales, left, punches the ball away from Argentina's Nehuen Perez during the first half of 🦩a friendly soccer match in Philadelphia.

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International Friendlies: Argentina vs El Salvador
International Friendlಌies: Argentina vs El Salvador | Photo: AP/Matt Slocum

Argentina's Cristian Romero reacts after scoring a goal during the first hal💧f of a friendly soccer match against El Salvador in Philadelphia.

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