Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) celebrates his goal with teammates Fernando Gago (C) and Javier Mascherano during their match against Portugal in Geneva Wednesday. (Reuters) LONDON: Lionel Messi scored a last-minute penalty to give Argentina a dramatic 2-1 victory over Portugal while France maintained its renaissance under coach Laurent Blanc with a 1-0 win over five-time world champion Brazil Wednesday. Cristiano Ronaldo looked to have earned Portugal a draw in Geneva with a 21st-minute equalizer but the Real Madrid forward was upstaged by his Barcelona rival, who converted from the spot with seconds remaining. Karim Benzema was France's match-winner in Paris, the Real Madrid striker scoring in the 54th minute after good build-up play by Jeremy Menez. Brazil was down to 10 men by that stage following the sending-off of Hernanes. In other high-profile international friendlies, Manchester City winger David Silva scored an 86th-minute winner in Spain's 1-0 victory over Colombia to end the team's poor recent run of results, Italy drew 1-1 in Germany and England beat Denmark 2-1. Messi and Ronaldo were always going to hog the limelight in the first match between Argentina and Portugal since 1972. Messi had the last laugh, tucking away his penalty for his 16th international goal after Javier Pastore was adjudged to have been fouled. The France-Brazil match at the Stade de France was a repeat of the 1998 World Cup final, which the French won 3-0, and the host deservedly got the better of their South American opponents again 11 years on. Spain was winless in its last three friendly games going into the international against Colombia, its most recent match being a 4-0 thrashing by Iberian neighbor Portugal. The world and European champion struggled to keep up with the visitors at times at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium but snatched a morale-boosting victory when Silva turned in a cross right winger Jesus Navas. Ukraine, the co-host for next year's European Championship with Poland, also had a good day. It emerged victorious from the annual winter four-team tournament in Cyprus after a 1-1 draw with Sweden and a 5-4 penalty shootout success. Fellow host Poland also won, beating Norway 1-0. Russia, which has been basking in the success of landing the right to stage the 2018 World Cup Finals in recent weeks, were brought down to earth on the field, beaten 1-0 by Iran in Abu Dhabi, who had Mohammad Reza Khalatbari sent off for removing his shirt in celebration after scoring their last minute winner.
