Highlights: Messi scores a brace in Argentina's 7-0 rout of Hong Kong

Lionel Messi during international friendly against Hong Kong

Argentina cruised on to a comfortable 7-0 victory against Hong Kong in their International friendly game.

Gonzalo Higuain, Nicolas Gaitan and Lionel Messi scored braces while Ever Banega also netted once as coach Tata Martino regained some lost grounds since losing 2-0 to Brazil.

Messi was rested as the Barcelona star came off the bench for the final 30 minutes. Banega opened the scoring for the Albiceleste while Higuain and Benfica’s Gaitan also found the net before half time.

Second half started as usual with Martino’s men finding the net again as Higuain scored his second. Messi came on for the final third amongst cheers from the crowd in attendance and put on a show, scoring two goals and assisting Gaitan’s second.

His first goal came from a clever chip over Hong Kong goalkeeper Yapp after a neat one-two with Banega. The second was a typical Messi strike after he dribbled past 4 defenders to slot in his 44th th goal in his country’s colors.

Here are the complete highlights of the match.