Messi scores penalty as Argentina seal 3-0 win over Iceland at Auburn

Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot as Argentina defeated Iceland 3-0 in a pre-World Cup friendly at Jordan-Hare Stadium on the Auburn University campus on Tuesday, rounding off a two-game tour of SEC college venues for the defending world champions.

Messi entered as a second-half substitute — the same role he is expected to reprise at the World Cup, where he will appear for a record-equalling sixth time. His penalty added gloss to a comfortable Argentine performance in front of a crowd more accustomed to college football Saturdays.

The result followed Argentina’s 2-0 win over Honduras at Texas A&M’s stadium the previous Saturday. Messi sat out that fixture but made headlines off the pitch by swapping jerseys with Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed.

With the warm-up schedule complete, Argentina now turn their attention to the World Cup itself. The defending champions open their title defence against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16, before facing Austria at Dallas Stadium on June 22 and Jordan on June 27.