Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina edged closer to Italy's world record unbeaten streak with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Jamaica in a World Cup warm-up friendly in New Jersey on Tuesday.  The superstar who plays for Paris Saint Germain took his international goal tally to 90 scores in 164 appearances. He came in as a second-half substitute at the Red Bull Arena yet he managed to find the back of the net twice. Messi's goals capped an emphatic win for the South Americans, who have now gone 35 games unbeaten in a streak stretching back to 2019 – just two shy of Italy’s world record unbeaten run of 37 sets between 2018 and 2012. Download the Sokapro App for the latest thrilling sporting news. 

Messi, who also scored twice in a victory against Honduras in a friendly on Friday in Miami, wowed the crowd with an exhilarating cameo after substituting for Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan in the 56th minute. He bagged his first of the night in the 86th minute, darting forward before caressing a shot into the bottom corner past Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake. The presence of Messi sent the fans into a frenzy. On three separate occasions, fans raced onto the field to get closer to the Argentine legend. One shirtless fan attempted to get Messi to autograph his back before he was bundled to the floor by security staff. Catch all the latest football scores via the Sokapro App download.
 

Messi's late double crowned another assured performance from Lionel Scaloni's Argentina, who are rapidly emerging as one of the favourites for the World Cup in Qatar in November. The first half was controlled by the Argentinians, who took the lead on minute 13 when Martinez jinked past Damion Lowe of Jamaica and cut back for Julian Alvarez of Manchester City, who tucked away a low finish from close range. Alvarez almost had a second soon afterward but curled his shot just wide. Midfielder Guido Rodriguez also went close, but was unable to direct his volley at the back post on target, instead shooting over the bar. Giovani Lo Celso also threatened with a long-range effort that flew just wide of the top corner in the 33rd minute. 

Lionel Messi, however, showed his football prowess as he netted twice in the 86th and 89th minute killing the game while at the same time sealing a win for the Argentines. The South American nation is aiming at bagging the FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup and Messi, arguably the greatest player to ever grace the football pitch, is the man carrying all the hopes of the nation. The player who is idolized in most parts of the world is being looked up to help his nation to lift the first-ever World Cup after last winning it in 1986 during the era of Diego Maradona. The Qatar World Cup is slated to take place between November and December and the world will come to know who is the ruler of the pitch, a position currently held by 2018 World Cup champions France.