Paraguay vs Argentina 2:1

Lionel Messi and Argentina Suffer 2-1 Loss to Paraguay in World Cup Qualifier

In a stunning upset, Argentina’s reign as World Cup champions suffered a setback with a 2-1 loss to Paraguay in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match. The defeat marked Messi’s third consecutive loss for club and country, following Inter Miami’s early exit from the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Paraguay’s Antonio Sanabria scored a breathtaking bicycle kick to equalize, while Omar Alderete netted the game-winning goal in the second half, assisted by Messi’s Inter Miami teammate Diego Gomez. Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in the 11th minute, but the team failed to find the back of the net again.

Messi, who has played 190 matches for Argentina, was held scoreless and confronted referees at halftime, expressing frustration over tough challenges by Paraguayan defenders. Despite the loss, Argentina remains atop the Conmebol World Cup qualifying standings with 22 points, but Colombia’s match against Uruguay on Friday could change the leaderboard.

_Key Takeaways:_

– Messi’s three-game losing streak is only the third in his career.

– Argentina’s loss is their fifth in 69 matches under coach Lionel Scaloni.

– Paraguay’s win boosts their World Cup qualifying chances, moving to 16 points.

– Messi will play his final game of the year against Peru on Tuesday.

_Post-Match Reactions:_

– Coach Lionel Scaloni: “Peru will be a totally different rival, but it also has its difficulties. We are going to prepare well and hopefully we can give the people something to cheer about.”

– Messi: “A season ended in which we continued to grow as a club and, although we achieved some goals, we wanted more.” (on Instagram, regarding Inter Miami’s season)

_Upcoming Matches:_

– Argentina vs. Peru (World Cup qualifier) – Tuesday

– Colombia vs. Uruguay (World Cup qualifier) – Friday

The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature the top six teams from Conmebol qualifying. Argentina seeks to rebound from this loss and secure their spot in the tournament.

Referenece and Citations:

• USAToday – Paraguay vs Argentina live updates score results highlights
• Sportstar – Paraguay vs Argentina live score FIFA world cup 2026 qualifier goal match updates par v Argentina highlights streaming
• BeInsports – Messi s fury and scaloni s shameless remark  toward referee in  Paraguay vs Argentina match