It's taken a little while, but Lionel Messi is back to his very best.The Argentine superstar was below-par by his own lofty standards in 2021/22 after swapping Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain.But after a full pre-season, Messi has returned to his superhuman-like ways with both club and country.The 35-year-old has scored and assisted goals for fun in a PSG shirt so far this season, while his latest display for Argentina was a thing of beauty.
Messi dropped a masterclass vs Honduras
Read more - Messi's incredible Argentina performance vs Honduras
In the early hours of Saturday morning UK time, Messi bagged a brace in a comfortable 3-0 victory over Honduras in a World Cup warm-up match.
The first of his goals was a cooly-taken penalty, one scored using a technique similar to that of Neymar, and the second ranks among the great man's finest on international duty.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 23: Argentina fans celebrate after Forward Lionel Messi scored a goal during the first half of the international friendly match between Honduras and Argentina at Hard Rock Stadium on September 23, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
From all of 30 yards out, Messi chipped Honduras goalkeeper Luis Lopez with the most exquisite of first-time finishes.
It was a work of art from the left-footed genius and the reaction from Argentina's bench to the goal said so, so much.
In a new camera angle provided by TyC Sports, Lionel Scaloni and Pablo Aimar can be seen with almost stunned looks on their faces from the sidelines.
Rather than celebrating, Scaloni just stared in Messi's direction, as if to savour the latest snippet of genius from the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Check out the footage...
Video: How Argentina bench reacted to Messi wonder-goal vs Honduras
Scaloni just sat back and admired a moment of magic from arguably the greatest footballer to have ever lived - fair play.
Argentina's victory over Honduras means they're now unbeaten in their last 34 matches, which is quite an extraordinary achievement.
For the first time in years, the South American nation look like a world-class outfit and with an in-form Messi leading the side, they stand every chance of winning the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Who will Argentina and Messi play at the 2022 World Cup?
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 23: Forward Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina walks off the field after the international friendly match between Honduras and Argentina at Hard Rock Stadium on September 23, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
Argentina have been drawn into Group C at the World Cup later this year in Qatar, where they'll lock horns with Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.
Messi and his merry men will be expected to progress to the last-16 with relative ease, although Mexico and Poland will certainly be stern tests for La Albiceleste in the Middle East.