Argentina 4 Haiti 0: Lionel Messi hat-trick inspires Jorge Sampaoli’s side to commanding victory over minnows

ON the ground Diego Maradona calls his own, Lionel Messi laid down a statement of intent to emulate the great man and captain his country to World Cup glory.

The Barcelona magician owned the Bombonera turf with a swashbuckling hat-trick which set him apart from everyone else on the pitch.

And it was also a night to remember for the former captain as Javier Mascherano was handed a commemorative shirt for earning a record 143 caps for his country.

Once the action started, it took just 17 minutes for the Albiceleste to open the scoring as Giovani Lo Celso was fouled and Messi fired the resulting penalty into the top corner.

And Messi and Lo Celso, who was the pick of the other ten starting players, teamed up again for the second goal just before the hour.

The PSG playmaker's header forced Oldham goalkeeper Johnny Placide into a great save but the captain was on hand to tap in the rebound.

Messi didn't have to wait long for his hat-trick as some good work from Boca star and local hero Cristian Pavon left him with a simple tap-in.

Placide seemed so resigned to his fate that he slumped to the ground before the ball had even crossed the line.

On 68 minutes, Messi turned provider and played in Sergio Aguero to net after the Man City man replaced Gonzalo Higuain.

Yes, it was only Haiti in a friendly but under Sampaoli's management, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is now regularly dictating international games in the way he does with his club.

And if Messi has a new playmate in Lo Celso then World Cup opponents Nigeria, Croatia and Iceland will be all the more concerned.