- Lionel Messi netted a stunning free-kick to open the scoring in their clash against Chile
- The Barcelona forward took the effort from 25 yards and found the net with plenty of whip
- Chile drew back through Eduardo Vargas who scored a rebound after Arturo Vidal’s penalty had been saved
Lionel Messi scored a stunning free-kick in Argentina’s Copa America opener against Chile – before Chile drew back through Eduardo Vargas.
The six-time Ballon D’or winner in typical style sent a lofted strike from 25 yards that arched over the Chilean wall and nestled into the back of the net.
The strike was Messi’s seventh free-kick goal for his country, moving one clear of the legendary dead-ball specialist Juan Roman Riquelme.
Chile rallied back in the second hald and were awarded a penalty after a lengthy VAR review.
Inter Milan’s Arturo Vidal was fouled and he stepped up to take the resultant penalty. His effort was however expertly tipped by Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez before Eduardo Vargas reacted quickest to nod home from the rebound.
In other matches, Paraguay beat ten-man Bolivia 3-1.
Argentina take on Paraguay next on Saturday as Chile will battle Bolivia on the same day.
