Argentina 4-0 Bolivia
Argentina defeated Bolivia 4-0 in an international friendly at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring, Nico Paz doubled the advantage, Cristian “Cuti” Romero headed in Argentina’s third, and José Manuel “Flaco” López completed the victory late in the second half.
The match was especially significant because it marked Argentina’s first game following its 2026 World Cup campaign and came during a period of transition surrounding Lionel Messi’s international future. Romero captained the side in Messi’s absence.
So, if you are searching for Argentina vs Bolivia today, the key update is that the game has already been completed: Argentina won 4-0 in Córdoba on September 30.
Argentina vs Bolivia: Final Score and Match Result
Final score: Argentina 4-0 Bolivia
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Argentina vs Bolivia |
| Competition | International Friendly |
| Date | September 30, 2026 |
| Stadium | Mario Alberto Kempes |
| Location | Córdoba, Argentina |
| Final score | Argentina 4-0 Bolivia |
| Half-time score | Argentina 2-0 Bolivia |
| Argentina scorers | Lautaro Martínez, Nico Paz, Cristian Romero, José Manuel López |
| Referee | Jhon Ospina |
Argentina’s four-goal victory was built around two goals in the first half and two more after the interval.
The Argentine Football Association reported that Argentina began with substantial possession and quick transitions, eventually breaking through when Alexis Mac Allister found Lautaro Martínez. Exequiel Palacios then supplied the pass for Nico Paz’s second goal. Romero added the third early in the second half, while López finished the scoring late on.
Argentina vs Bolivia Goals: Who Scored?
The four Argentina goals came from four different players.
1-0: Lautaro Martínez — 19th minute
Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring in the 19th minute.
The move developed through midfield before Alexis Mac Allister played a precise pass into Martínez’s path. The striker finished beyond Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra to give Argentina the lead.
It was an important early breakthrough because Argentina had controlled possession without initially producing a clear scoring opportunity.
2-0: Nico Paz — 29th minute
Nico Paz made it 2-0 in the 29th minute.
Exequiel Palacios provided the pass that released Paz, who calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Viscarra. The finish gave Argentina a two-goal advantage before the half-hour mark.
Paz was one of the most noticeable attacking players of the evening and also played a role in the third goal after the interval.
3-0: Cristian Romero — 54th minute
Cristian Romero extended the lead eight minutes into the second half.
A corner delivered by Nico Paz reached Romero in the penalty area, and the defender headed the ball into the net.
The goal had additional significance because Romero was wearing the captain’s armband in Messi’s absence.
4-0: José Manuel López — 86th minute
José Manuel López completed the 4-0 scoreline in the 86th minute.
Leonel Flores created the opportunity with an individual attacking move, and López reacted to a rebound inside the box to score.
It was López’s first goal for Argentina, adding a personal milestone to an already decisive team result.
Argentina vs Bolivia Match Timeline
The key moments unfolded as follows:
- 19′ — Argentina 1-0: Lautaro Martínez finishes after Mac Allister’s pass.
- 29′ — Argentina 2-0: Nico Paz chips the goalkeeper following Palacios’ through ball.
- Half-time — Argentina 2-0 Bolivia: Argentina enters the interval with a two-goal lead.
- 54′ — Argentina 3-0: Cristian Romero scores with a header from a Nico Paz corner.
- 86′ — Argentina 4-0: José Manuel López scores from close range after a rebound.
- Full-time — Argentina 4-0 Bolivia.
The result means Argentina scored twice in each half, while Bolivia failed to find a response.
Argentina vs Bolivia First Half: How the Game Developed
Argentina controlled the opening half through possession and movement.
Rather than relying on constant direct attacks, Lionel Scaloni’s side circulated the ball and looked for openings between Bolivia’s defensive lines. The first goal eventually came from a quick midfield combination, while the second arrived through another incisive pass.
After Paz’s goal, Argentina reduced the tempo and circulated possession across the pitch. That allowed the hosts to reach half-time with a comfortable 2-0 advantage.
For Bolivia, the main challenge was preventing Argentina from finding space around the penalty area. Once Argentina established its rhythm, Bolivia spent significant periods defending without producing enough attacking pressure to alter the match.
Argentina vs Bolivia Second Half: Romero and López Complete the Win
The second half began with another Argentina goal.
Paz delivered the corner for Romero, whose header made it 3-0 in the 54th minute. From that point, Scaloni used substitutions to give other players minutes and continue experimenting with his squad.
The pace eventually slowed as Argentina managed the advantage through possession. Bolivia attempted to find a way back into the match, but the visitors could not turn their possession into a sustained scoring threat.
López’s late goal provided the final highlight, making the scoreline 4-0.
Argentina vs Bolivia Starting Lineups
The confirmed starting XI for Argentina was:
Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Agustín Giay, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Román Vega; Exequiel Palacios, Alexis Mac Allister; Nico Paz, Gianluca Prestianni; Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez.
Bolivia: Guillermo Viscarra; Diego Arroyo, Efraín Morales, Héctor Cuéllar; Miguel Terceros, Ramiro Vaca, Robson Tomé de Araújo; Roberto Carlos Fernández, Jesús Maraude, Yomar Rocha and Marcelo Torrez.
Jhon Ospina of Colombia was the referee.
Argentina’s Formation and Tactical Approach
Argentina’s lineup suggested a flexible structure built around a back four, a midfield pairing and several attacking players operating ahead of them.
The midfield partnership of Exequiel Palacios and Alexis Mac Allister provided the platform for Argentina’s possession game. Paz and Prestianni offered additional attacking movement behind or around the front two.
One notable feature was the balance between established players and younger options. Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez supplied experience in attack, while Paz, Prestianni and Giay represented part of the generation being tested during the new cycle.
The approach was not simply about scoring goals. Argentina also used possession to control the rhythm once the advantage became substantial.
Bolivia’s Starting XI and Match Challenge
Bolivia began with Guillermo Viscarra in goal and a defensive group featuring Diego Arroyo, Efraín Morales and Héctor Cuéllar.
Miguel Terceros and Ramiro Vaca were among the players tasked with helping Bolivia transition into attack, but Argentina’s control of the ball made it difficult for Bolivia to sustain pressure.
The 4-0 scoreline reflected the difference in attacking efficiency on the night. Argentina converted its opportunities while Bolivia was unable to produce a goal of its own.
Argentina’s Four Goals Explained
The scoreline also illustrates the variety of Argentina’s attacking routes:
- Combination play: Mac Allister’s pass created the opening for Lautaro Martínez.
- Through-ball and technique: Palacios released Nico Paz, who finished with a delicate chip.
- Set piece: Paz’s corner allowed Romero to score with a header.
- Individual play and reaction: Flores created the final opportunity before López converted the rebound.
That variety made the result more than a collection of similar chances. Argentina found the net through open play, combination football, a set piece and a late attacking sequence.
Argentina Begins a New Chapter Without Messi
The match carried additional attention because Lionel Messi was not involved.
AP reported that the 39-year-old Messi had stepped away from international duty after announcing his international retirement, although he was expected to appear in a farewell match against Benin in Buenos Aires the following Tuesday.
That made the Bolivia friendly an important early test of Argentina’s options without its long-time captain and leading scorer.
Cristian Romero wore the captain’s armband, while players such as Nico Paz and José Manuel López provided reminders of the talent available to the next generation.
It would be too early to draw broad conclusions from one friendly, but the match did provide Lionel Scaloni with an opportunity to evaluate combinations and younger players in a competitive international setting.
What the 4-0 Result Tells Us About Argentina
The clearest takeaway is that Argentina retained its ability to control a match through possession and coordinated attacking movements.
The team also demonstrated that goals can come from several positions. Martínez provided the traditional center-forward finish, Paz supplied creativity and scoring, Romero contributed from a set piece, and López made an impact after entering the match.
The result should nevertheless be viewed in context. This was an international friendly rather than a competitive tournament fixture, and Bolivia was unable to seriously disrupt Argentina’s control.
The next matches will provide further opportunities to evaluate whether the combinations tested in Córdoba become regular features of Argentina’s next cycle.
Argentina vs Bolivia: What Happens Next?
The Bolivia match was the first of three Argentina fixtures during this international window.
According to the Argentine Football Association’s schedule, Argentina will next face Burkina Faso on October 3, 2026, before meeting Benin on October 6, 2026, both in Buenos Aires.
The Benin match is expected to have particular significance because it is scheduled as Messi’s farewell appearance for Argentina.
For Bolivia, the team has the opportunity to respond in its remaining international fixtures after the Córdoba defeat.
source: ESPN.com
source: thedailystar.net
Argentina vs Bolivia Highlights: Key Takeaways
If you missed the game, these are the moments worth knowing:
- Argentina won 4-0.
- Lautaro Martínez scored first in the 19th minute.
- Nico Paz made it 2-0 in the 29th minute.
- Cristian Romero headed home the third in the 54th minute.
- José Manuel López scored Argentina’s fourth in the 86th minute.
- Argentina led 2-0 at half-time.
- Romero captained Argentina in Messi’s absence.
- López scored his first goal for the Argentina senior national team.
- The match was played at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.
- The result marked Argentina’s first match after the 2026 World Cup.
Argentina vs Bolivia Today Score: Quick Answer
Argentina’s latest score against Bolivia is 4-0. Argentina defeated Bolivia on September 30, 2026, at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.
The goals came from Lautaro Martínez, Nico Paz, Cristian Romero and José Manuel López.
Because today is October 1, the match is already finished rather than live.
Final Verdict on the Match
Argentina’s 4-0 victory over Bolivia provided a strong opening result for its next international cycle.
The most important elements were not only the margin of victory but also the distribution of the goals. Martínez, Paz, Romero and López all contributed, while Argentina maintained control through possession and movement.
For Scaloni, the friendly offered valuable minutes for a mixture of established players and emerging talents. For supporters, it provided an early look at Argentina’s team following the 2026 World Cup and during the transition surrounding Messi’s international career.
The next fixtures against Burkina Faso and Benin should provide further context for the players and tactical combinations tested in Córdoba.
6. Custom FAQ Section
Argentina vs Bolivia lineups
Argentina’s starting XI was Emiliano Martínez; Agustín Giay, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Román Vega; Exequiel Palacios, Alexis Mac Allister; Nico Paz, Gianluca Prestianni; Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez.
Bolivia started Guillermo Viscarra; Diego Arroyo, Efraín Morales, Héctor Cuéllar; Miguel Terceros, Ramiro Vaca, Robson Tomé de Araújo; Roberto Carlos Fernández, Jesús Maraude, Yomar Rocha and Marcelo Torrez.
Argentina vs Bolivia highlights
The major highlights were Argentina’s four goals. Lautaro Martínez scored in the 19th minute, Nico Paz added the second in the 29th, Cristian Romero headed in the third in the 54th, and José Manuel López completed the scoring in the 86th.
Argentina vs Bolivia today score
The final score was Argentina 4-0 Bolivia. The match was played on September 30, 2026, so as of October 1 it is already a completed fixture.
Argentina vs Bolivia today live
The Argentina-Bolivia match is not live now because it finished on September 30. Argentina won 4-0 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.
Argentina vs Bolivia today time
The match kicked off at 9:00 p.m. Argentina time on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium
Also Read
