Lionel Messi came off the bench for Argentina on Thursday as La Albiceleste beat Paraguay 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier.
2026 World Cup qualification South America
1-0
Match Report
Messi, whose MLS season will finish next weekend with Inter Miami eliminated from playoff contention, entered the match in the 53rd minute for Julian Alvarez.
Nicolas Otamendi scored the lone goal for the favorites in the third minute.
With the win, Argentina are top of South American qualifying with three wins in as many games.
They will travel to Lima on Tuesday for another qualifier vs. Peru.
Messi had been linked to a loan move in Saudi Arabia or Barcelona after Miami were eliminated from playoff contention - with MLS' regular season not set to resume until February.
However, Fabrizio Romano poured cold water on those claims on Wednesday, saying Messi has his 'full focus' on Miami and Argentina as he gears up for a relatively busy November.
After the end of the MLS season, Messi is expected to face Uruguay and Brazil in World Cup qualifiers.
And reports have suggested that Miami will travel to China and Japan to play a pair of post-season friendlies as well.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Paraguay (Otamendi)
7' Yellow Card! Enzo Fernández booked
21' Yellow Card! J.Alonso booked
29' CLOSE! Lautaro’s shot wide out
36' CHANCE! Gonzalez’s shot blocked
41' OFF THE POST! De Paul nearly scores for Argentina!
44' CLOSE! Gonzalez’s shot wide out
45' Messi is warming up
50' Yellow Card! Adam Bareiro booked
52' Messi in, Álvarez out
75' OFF THE POST! Messi nearly scores for Argentina
Line-ups
Argentina XI: Otamendi, E. Martinez, Tagliafico, De Paul, Lautaro, Nahuel Molina, Romero, N. Gonzalez, Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández
Subs: Messi, F. Armani, Paredes, Pezzella, Ocampos, Acuna, Musso, G. Rodriguez, Lo Celso, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Gonzalo Montiel, Alejandro Garnacho
Paraguay XI: G.Gómez, Iván Ramírez, Balbuena, J.Alonso, Almiron, Carlos Coronel, Adam Bareiro, Richard Sánchez, Álvaro Campuzano, Matías Espinoza, Ramón Sosa
Subs: Gastón Giménez, Héctor Villalba, Gabriel Ávalos, Sanabria, Omar Alderete, Juan Espínola, Alejandro Romero, Matías Rojas, Santiago Rojas, Robert Rojas, Braian Ojeda, Matías Galarza