Article by Adrian Duţă – Published Saturday, March 28, 2026, 08:33 / Updated Saturday, March 28, 2026 08:46
Aly Abeid, the left defender from CFR Cluj, was the captain of Mauritania in the friendly lost with Argentina, score 1-2, at La Bombonera.
The player from the Superliga faced Lionel Messi directly for 33 minutes, in the second half. Abeid left the field in the 78th minute, the Argentina captain had entered the pitch at half-time.
Aly Abeid, captain against Lionel Messi in Argentina v Mauritania
The reigning world champion continues testing for the final tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada, which will take place in the summer. Mauritania, ranked 115th in the FIFA hierarchy, came to the Boca Juniors stadium.
Lionel Scaloni started without Messi on the field, but with a team close to what it will be at the World Cup. Right wing in the first half was Nico Paz, the player who impresses in Como, the revelation of Serie A. He was Abeid's direct opponent in the first half.
Argentina opened the scoring through Enzo Fernandez, who scored in the 17th minute from Molina's pass. Paz made it 2-0 for the hosts in the 32nd minute.
At half-time, Scaloni made 3 changes and sent 3 “heavies” onto the pitch, led by Leo Messi. Rodrigo de Paul and Mastantuono entered with him.
Abeid got to face Messi directly for 33 minutes, being replaced by Diaw. For the defender from CFR Cluj, it was match number 66 for his country's national team.
22 matcheshas Abeid in this Superliga season
Argentina, with all the stars in front of Mauritania
Argentina's starting line-up against Mauritania: E. Martinez – Molina, Romero, Senesi, Acuna – Enzo Fernandez, Mac Allister, Almada – Paz, Julian Alvarez, Nico Gonzalez.
Along the way they entered: Lionel Messi, Rodrigo de Paul, Mastantuono, Giovanni Simeone, Gabriel Rojas, Giay, Jose Lopez and Exequiel Palacios
For Argentina, a friendly with Zambia follows on April 1. At the World Cup, the South Americans are in a group with Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
