2022 World Cup winners Argentina, led by hero Lionel Messi, will take the field for the first time since hoisting the most coveted trophy in all of football as they welcome Panama to Buenos Aires.
The friendly will allow fans at the Estadio Monumental to pay their respects to the team after the Albiceleste secured the nation’s third World Cup title in history, and first since the legendary Diego Maradona played for the side. Messi has now reached the same storied heights as Maradona, and has been treated like a king since winning the penalty shootout over France in Qatar.
Messi was called up for this first Argentina match after the World Cup, as was Angel Di Maria, who was considering international retirement ahead of the World Cup but now continues as part of the Albiceleste team.
The squad reconvenes for this friendly against Central American foes Panama, who fell just short of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
The Sporting News will be following the Argentina vs. Panama match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Argentina vs Panama live score
| 1H | 2H | Score | |
| Argentina | – | – | – |
| Panama | – | – | – |
Goals:
None
Lineups:
Argentina (4-3-3, right to left): E. Martinez (GK) — Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico — Mac Allister, E. Fernandez, De Paul — Messi, J. Alvarez, Di Maria.
Panama (4-3-1-2, right to left): 12-Guerra (GK) — 2-I. Anderson, 4-Farina, 5-Peralta, 3-Galvan — 11-Murillo, 6-Gudino, 17-Quintero — 13-Ramos — 9-Stephens, 19-Cordoba.
Argentina vs Panama live updates, highlights, commentary
23 mins to kickoff: The Argentina lineup announcement in-stadium wasn’t your run-of-the-mill reading of names.
¡así sale el campeón del mundo para enfrentar a Panamá! pic.twitter.com/tvlUiGx85u
— Argentina Gol (@BocaJrsGolArg) March 23, 2023
30 mins to kickoff: Dibu Martinez playing to the crowd with some of his dance moves made famous after penalty shootouts.
BAILE DIBUJO! 🫶🏻💙🤍
— Tomiconcina 🎙️ (@Tomiconcina1) March 23, 2023
And here was Dibu on his entry for warmups, pointing at the three stars.
La entrada del Dibu Martínez mostrando el escudo con las tres estrellas. 🇦🇷♥️pic.twitter.com/MKtMTIQsNW
— TR SPORTS ®️ (@TrSports13) March 23, 2023
40 mins to kickoff: While the players are warming up, the players’ families are getting a moment in front of the crowd, as well.
Family of the players are also living the moment of their lives! How beautiful!!💙🙌pic.twitter.com/knx8aC37y3
— BD Albiceleste 🇧🇩💙🇦🇷 (@bd_albiceleste) March 23, 2023
55 mins to kickoff: In case you were wondering, here’s the jersey that the world champions will be wearing with the FIFA World Cup champion patch and the third star above the badge.
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) March 23, 2023
55 mins to kickoff: It wouldn’t be a World Cup celebration without the “Muchachos” song led by the man who came up with the lyrics himself.
MUCHAAAAACHOOOOS! Via @TyCSports. 🇦🇷pic.twitter.com/jbVZ8RWivF
— Mundo Albiceleste ⭐🌟⭐🇦🇷 (@MundoAlbicelest) March 23, 2023
🇦🇷🏆 No te lo puedo explicar, porque no vas a entender…
“Muchaaaaachos”, al ritmo de la gente y de su creador, Fernando Romero. #ElCampeonEnDSPORTS ⭐️⭐️⭐️ pic.twitter.com/ZTEhvt4jnK
— DSports (@DSports) March 23, 2023
¡Qué grande sos, @fnromero! El autor de la letra que cantamos todos los argentinos tuvo su momento especial en el Mâs Monumental. #VamosArgentina 🌟🌟🌟 pic.twitter.com/e5O5GoO2pA
— Liga Profesional de Fútbol (@LigaAFA) March 23, 2023
60 mins to kickoff: We have Argentina’s starting lineup and it’s the exact same one that took the field for the World Cup final. It was only right.
¡LOS ONCE DEL CAMPEÓN DEL MUNDO vs Panamá! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
La formación de Argentina llega con @KFC_Argentina, el mejor pollo del mundo, con promos para chuparse los dedos. pic.twitter.com/AFtkRRtV3C
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) March 23, 2023
¡Xl de Panamá 🇵🇦! 🔥
Estos son los elegidos de Jorge Dely Valdés para enfrentar a Argentina 🇦🇷 en el Estadio Monumental.
¿Qué te parece? Comenta 👇🏽#EstoyMareaRoja pic.twitter.com/lAMqTj9pge
— Deportes RPC (@deportes_rpc) March 23, 2023
70 mins to kickoff: A jam-packed Monumental is a real sight. The match is still over an hour away.
Así se encuentra el 🏟️ Estadio Monumental a poco más de una hora del comienzo del partido pic.twitter.com/0btDLysRzv
— Falso Nueve ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@falsonueve_f9) March 23, 2023
75 mins to kickoff: It’s a real show at the Monumental today with musical acts preceding the Argentina vs. Panama celebratory match. This is a glimpse at the crowd taking in La T y La M.
AHORA 🔴
Show de “La T y la M” pic.twitter.com/y7y5OQ9RUV
— Falso Nueve ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@falsonueve_f9) March 23, 2023
Also, apparently for two years running, Argentina stars Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul have a joint superstition in which they walk to the center circle for EVERY GAME and both eat a candy.
La cábala de los caramelos entre @rodridepaul y @LParedss, interminable. 🍬🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/kyJFu7qZ4M
— Ataque Futbolero (@AtaqueFutbolero) March 23, 2023
120 mins to kickoff: Lionel Messi has accomplished nearly everything there is to do in his football career, adding the coveted World Cup title to his extensive trophy case.
Yet he can still make history tonight. He is just one goal shy of the 800 career goals mark for club and country, while he sits two international goals from the century mark with Argentina. He continues to shatter expectations and defy the doubters at 35 years old!
¡Por el gol histórico!🔥⚽🇦🇷
Messi enfrentará la fecha FIFA en busca del gol 800 en su carrera pic.twitter.com/jDYSndTS2L
— AS USA (@US_diarioas) March 23, 2023
Argentina vs Panama lineups & team news
Many expected manager Lionel Scaloni to start with a lineup that started against France and he did just that. Still, it will be interesting to see if in-form youngster Thiago Almada is given playing time at some point, as he continues to score goals and create chances in bunches for Atlanta United in Major League Soccer.
Argentina starting lineup(4-3-3): E. Martinez (GK) — Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico — Mac Allister, E. Fernandez, De Paul — Messi, J. Alvarez, Di Maria.
Argentina subs (12): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
Panama last took the field in mid-March for a friendly against Guatemala that took place outside an official FIFA international window. Carlos Harvey scored the Panamanians’ only goal in a 1-1 draw at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif. But this Panamanian squad will be a second team managed by assistant coach Jorge Dely Valdes.
Panama starting lineup (4-3-1-2): 12-Jose Guerra (GK) — 2-Ivan Anderson, 4-Edgardo Farina, 5-Richard Peralta, 3-Kevin Galvan — 11-Jose Murillo, 6-Irving Gudino, 17-Cristian Quintero — 13-Jiovany Ramos — 9-Alfredo Stephens, 19-Ronaldo Cordoba.
Panama subs (12): 1-Emerson Dimas, 7-Jorge Serrano, 8-Martin Moran, 10-Miguel Camargo, 14-Gilberto Hernandez, 15-Ricardo Avila, 16-Michael Casazola, 18-Victor Medina, 20-Omar Browne
How to watch Argentina vs Panama
- Date: Thursday, March 23
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 p.m. GMT
- Streaming (USA): Fanatiz (subscription required)
- TV Channel (UK): BT Sport 2
- Streaming (UK): BT Sport App, BTSport.com
The Argentina friendly against Panama will be broadcast in the United States exclusively on the streaming service Fanatiz, which requires a subscription.
In the United Kingdom, the game will be shown on BT Sport 2, with streaming available on their various platforms.