Argentina launched their quest for futsal gold at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games with a commanding 9-2 victory over hosts Senegal, drawing inspiration from football legend Lionel Messi.
The South Americans overwhelmed Senegal in their Group A opener on Monday, scoring nine goals in front of a packed crowd at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop despite the intense heat and vocal home support.
Six of Argentina’s eight outfield players got on the scoresheet, while Valentino Martínez, Enzo López and captain Lorenzo Sampedro each scored twice to underline their attacking strength.
The victory puts Argentina top of Group A and strengthens their status as contenders for the gold medal.
Argentina winger López said his team remained composed despite the hostile atmosphere created by the home supporters.
“We felt comfortable playing our game despite their home-field advantage,” he told Olympics.com.
He added that the team was determined to return home with a medal, preferably gold.
“We are really motivated to bring back a medal – God willing, a gold. That’s the main objective,” López said.
Another winger, Ezequiel Henriques, who scored Argentina’s seventh goal, said the players were united by their desire to represent their country successfully.
“We came here to win gold. Our motivation is the shirt of our country and this group of friends. This is a great, united group on the pitch,” he said.
The Argentine youngsters are also looking to follow in the footsteps of Messi, who won Olympic gold at the Beijing 2008 Games.
López described the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward as a major inspiration to the team.
“He really inspires us: he is the best player of all time. Being an Olympic champion, we hope we can achieve the same – he really motivates us,” he said.
Argentina's emphatic opening victory comes eight years after the country narrowly missed a podium finish in men's futsal at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
The 2026 squad, coached by Mariano Alberto Gomez, will now seek to build on their impressive start as they pursue Argentina's first Youth Olympic futsal gold.
The Dakar 2026 Games, which began on October 31, are the first Olympic sporting event to be hosted on African soil.
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