LONDON (AP) — Lionel Messi scored a last-minute penalty to give Argentina a dramatic 2-1 victory over Portugal while France maintained their renaissance under coach Laurent Blanc with a 1-0 win over five-time world champions Brazil yesterday.

Cristiano Ronaldo looked to have earned Portugal a draw in Geneva with a 21st-minute equaliser, 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 were 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 — who both play their club football in Spain and are arguably the world’s leading two players — 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.

Argentina went ahead in the 14th when Madrid winger Angel di Maria ran onto a pass by Messi to lift a finish over advancing goalkeeper Eduardo, but Ronaldo levelled by sliding home seven minutes later after Hugo Almeida had flicked the ball on.

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 hosts deservedly got the better of their South American opponents again 11 years on.

France, who claimed a fifth straight win and built on the 2-1 away victory over England in November, made the most of the numerical advantage given to the team by Hernanes’ red card, brandished to the midfielder for a dangerous tackle on Benzema.

The striker got back to his feet to lead the French charge, squandering a host of chances except for the one that brought France victory.

Menez went past two players and crossed the ball for Benzema to tap in for his 12th goal in 33 internationals.

Benzema also brought two great saves out of Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar while the visitors’ best chance for an equaliser came when substitute Hulk saw a shot pushed away by home goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.