Future Barcelona Star Ibrahim Diarra Scores Again As Mali Thrash Argentina To Finish Third At U17 World Cup

Future Barcelona star Ibrahim Diarra scored his fifth goal of the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup as Mali beat Argentina 3-0 to win the third-place play-off.

Mali completed an impressive U17 World Cup campaign on Friday by thrashing Argentina in the third-place play-off.

The African side thoroughly outplayed their South American opponents and recorded 34 shots - 27 more than Argentina.

Three of those shots found the back of the net as goals from Ibrahim Diarra, Mamadou Doumbia and Hamdiou Makalou earned Mali a 3-0 win in Indonesia.

Diarra - who will sign for Barcelona in January 2025 shortly after his 18th birthday, according to Jijantes - ended the tournament as Mali's top scorer with five goals.

Mali's players pictured dancing during their 3-0 win over Argentina at the U17 World Cup / Telemundo Deportes

Friday's victory over Argentina came three days after Mali had lost 2-1 to France in the semi-finals, despite bossing that game in terms of chances and possession.

Mali's only other defeat in the tournament was a 1-0 loss to Spain during the group stage.

But a 3-0 win over Uzbekistan and a 5-1 demolition of Canada saw Mali reach the round of 16, where they beat Mexico 5-0.

Mali beat Morocco 1-0 in the quarter-finals.

France will face Germany in the final on Saturday.

Highlights: Argentina 0-3 Mali

¡Argentina se quedó sin podio en la Copa Mundial Sub 17! 🚨

🇦🇷 La Albiceleste fue goleada por Mali 🇲🇱 en el partido por el tercer lugar.

🎥 Mira el resumen aquí ▶️#MundialTelemundo #U17WC #Indonesia2023 pic.twitter.com/oGGJinVTPW

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) December 1, 2023