In a thrilling start to the South American World Cup qualifying campaign, Argentina secured a 1-0 victory against Ecuador thanks to a trademark curling free-kick from football legend Lionel Messi. The match, which took place on Thursday, witnessed Messi’s magical performance, leaving fans ecstatic at the Estadio Monumental.
The game’s pivotal moment came in the 78th minute when Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez won a free-kick just outside the Ecuadorian penalty area. Lionel Messi, Argentina’s captain and record-breaking star, took responsibility for the set-piece. With precision and finesse, Messi’s effort floated gracefully over the defensive wall before dipping masterfully to beat the stationary Ecuadorian goalkeeper, Hernan Galindez.
Messi’s goal not only secured the crucial victory but also saw him draw level with his former Barcelona teammate, Luis Suarez of Uruguay, as the all-time leading scorers in South American qualifiers, with both players now boasting an impressive 29 goals.
Throughout the match, Argentina maintained dominance in possession, while Ecuador opted for a defensive strategy, occasionally breaking out on counter-attacks. The first significant opportunity of the game fell to Messi in the 16th minute, but his side-footed effort missed the target.
Just before halftime, Lautaro Martinez came tantalizingly close to opening the scoring, but his sliding effort met the post. In the 69th minute, Messi had another chance, but his low shot was comfortably handled by Galindez.
However, the Estadio Monumental crowd of 80,000 erupted in jubilation when Messi’s free-kick found the back of the net. From that moment on, Argentina’s path to victory seemed assured. Rodrigo De Paul, who had an outstanding performance throughout the game, set up substitute Angel Di Maria, whose effort narrowly missed the target. De Paul then forced a brilliant save from Galindez with a close-range blast near the end.
Reflecting on the game, Messi acknowledged Ecuador’s resilience, saying, “Ecuador showed they have very good players, that they are physically strong and that they are clear about what they do. We know that in every game we have to give one hundred percent to pull it off.”
He continued, “But we showed…that this group will not relax beyond what they achieved, which is something historic and extraordinary. We have to be aware that we enjoyed everything a lot, but what we did is over. We have to look ahead,” emphasized the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Colombia Edges Past Venezuela, Peru Holds On for Draw in South American Qualifiers
In another intense matchup, Colombia secured a 1-0 victory against Venezuela in Barranquilla. The only goal of the game came in the 46th minute when Rafael Santos Borre expertly headed home a pinpoint cross from Jhon Arias.
This triumph marked a successful start for the new Colombia coach, Argentine Nestor Lorenzo, who was taking charge of his first competitive match. It was a crucial win for Colombia, who failed to qualify for the previous World Cup in Qatar, while Venezuela aimed to secure their first-ever appearance in a World Cup finals.
Meanwhile, Peru faced a challenging task in Ciudad del Este, where they managed to hold on for a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Paraguay. Peru’s task became even more demanding when defender Luis Advíncula was sent off with a second yellow card just before halftime. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Peru displayed resilience and determination throughout the pulsating encounter.
The South American World Cup qualification process for the 2026 World Cup, featuring an expanded 48-team format, will offer two additional places for South American teams. Six teams will qualify directly, while the seventh out of the ten nations will compete in an intercontinental play-off.
Looking ahead, Brazil, the five-time World Cup champions, are set to face Bolivia, while Uruguay will host Chile in Friday’s matches, promising more thrilling action in the South American World Cup qualifiers.
