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Lionel Scaloni picked the same starting line-up
from the World Cup final win over France as they looked dominant
from the start, but could not break through the Panamanian
defensive wall until late in the second half.
Atlanta United's Almada opened the scoring in the 79th minute
with his first international goal after capitalising on a
rebound following a free kick by Messi that hit the left post.
Captain Messi finally got his 800th career goal and doubled the
lead in the 89th minute with a brilliant free-kick that went
into the top right corner to excite the more than 80,000 fans
chanting his name at the Monumental Stadium.
"I always dreamed of this moment, to celebrate with you in my
country Argentina, lifting the greatest thing that is the World
Cup," Messi said at a post-match ceremony organised by the
Argentine FA to celebrate the country's third World Cup title
and first in 36 years.
"Let's keep doing what we are doing and enjoy this, because we
have been waiting a long time to win it again. Let's enjoy the
third star."
A tearful Scaloni added: "Eternal gratitude to these players.
Football belongs to them, and without them we wouldn't have won
the World Cup.
"Everyone who wears this shirt gives their all and sometimes the
results don't come. But this time we got it and it's
incredible," said the coach before a victory lap of players and
families reminiscent of the one his team did 95 days ago at the
Lusail Stadium.
Argentina will continue their World Cup winners' homecoming with
a friendly against Curacao on Tuesday, while Panama face Costa
Rica in the CONCACAF Nations League.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by
Bradley Perrett and Sonali Paul)
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