<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Lionel Messi marked his 100th international victory with two goals as Argentina edged closer to Italy's world record unbeaten streak with a 3-0 defeat of Jamaica in a World Cup warm-up friendly in New Jersey on Tuesday.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Paris Saint-Germain superstar Messi took his international goals tally to 90 in 164 appearances after coming on as a second-half substitute at the Red Bull Arena.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Messi's goals capped an emphatic win for the South Americans, who have now gone 35 games unbeaten in a streak stretching back to 2019 - just two shy of Italy's world record unbeaten run of 37 set between 2018 and 2012.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Messi, who also scored twice during a friendly win over Honduras in Miami on Friday, delighted the crowd with an electrifying cameo after coming on in the 56th minute for Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He bagged his first of the night in the 86th minute, darting forward before caressing a shot into the bottom corner past Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 35-year-old seven-time Ballon D'Or winner then produced an impish second goal, craftily curling a low shot underneath the Jamaican wall into the bottom corner from a free-kick.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Messi's presence left the crowd in a frenzy. On three different occasions spectators sprinted onto the pitch in an effort to get close to the Argentinian icon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One shirtless fan attempted to get Messi to autograph his back before he was bundled to the floor by security staff.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Messi's late double crowned another assured performance from Lionel Scaloni's Argentina, who are rapidly emerging as one of the favourites for the World Cup in Qatar in November.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Argentinians had dominated throughout a one-sided first half, and took the lead on 13 minutes when Martinez jinked past Jamaica's Damion Lowe and cut back for Manchester City's Julian Alvarez, who tucked away a low finish from close range.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alvarez almost had a second soon afterwards but curled his shot just wide.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Midfielder Guido Rodriguez also went close, but was unable to direct his volley at the back post on target, instead shooting over the bar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Giovani Lo Celso also threatened with a long-range effort that flew just wide of the top corner in the 33rd minute. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>