Buenos Aires  - Lionel Messi rose to the challenge of wearing the historic number 10 Argentina jersey by leading his side to a comfortable 4-0 win over Venezuela Saturday in Buenos Aires, in Diego Maradona's official debut as Argentine national team coach.

Argentina thus redressed its course in the South American qualifiers towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and now stand second on 19 points from 11 games, four points ahead of leader Paraguay.

Before the game, Maradona had said he wanted his men to leave the pitch with an ovation, and he got his way with an outstanding performance before a limited rival.

Messi opened the score in the 26th minute, with a left foot shot to the far post following a one-two with Carlos Tevez. Venezuela complained about a possible offside, but television footage showed the goal was legal.

Just before half-time, a pass from the talented Barcelona striker to Sergio Aguero ended with a good from the latter, which got past the keeper but was blocked by defender Gabriel Cichero on its way to the net.

Barely two minutes after the break, Tevez made things 2-0 with a half-volley. Again, Messi was involved - he took the ball from Venezuela in the midfield and ran to cross from the right for the Manchester United striker to score.

In the 51st minute, Maxi Rodriguez made the most of another good run and cross from the right by Messi, to leave the score 3-0 with a shot that was deflected by a defender.

In the 73rd minute, Aguero got to leave his mark on the score, as he crowned an individual effort with a soft right-foot shot that found the net. Venezuelan keeper Renny Vega should have contained it easily, but a defender prevented him from seeing the direction of the ball.

Venezuela had never beaten Argentina in a senior team game, away or at home. On Saturday, Argentine keeper Juan Pablo Carrizo did well to contain two Venezuelan shots in the second half, but the home win was never in question.

Before full stands at the Monumental stadium, Argentina thoroughly dominated the game against lowly Venezuela, the only country in the region where football is not the most popular sport.

With former national football legend Maradona on the bench, Argentina had already won two friendlies in Europe, against Scotland and France. However, Saturday was the team's debut before its home crowd, and there were great expectations ahead of the game.

Ahead of the game against Venezuela, Maradona - nicknamed "El Diez" because he is for most the best player ever to wear that shirt - granted Messi the prestigious number 10 jersey that he once wore himself.

In recent years, the talented midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme has worn the shirt, but he stepped down from the national team earlier this month over a spat with Maradona. (dpa)