Lionel Messi showed his brilliance on the field once again, scoring two goals in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Peru in a World Cup qualifying match. It was a much-anticipated return for Messi, who played the full 93 minutes and found the back of the net for the first time since his injury with Inter Miami.
The Argentine coach couldn’t help but praise Messi’s performance, highlighting his importance to the team. And it was easy to see why. Messi’s goals came in the 32nd and 42nd minutes, with Nicolás González and Enzo Fernández providing the assists, respectively. The Barcelona star had several opportunities to complete a hat trick, but it just wasn’t meant to be this time.
Despite missing several matches with Inter Miami due to his injury, Messi expressed confidence in the Argentine national team and their chances in future competitions. And based on his performance against Peru, that confidence seems well-placed.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Messi. The VAR review denied him his third goal, ruling Argentina offside. But that didn’t dampen the spirits of the fans, as Messi’s performance showcased his return to form after his injury setback.
In fact, Argentina is currently leading CONMEBOL qualifying for the World Cup, with Messi playing a key role in their success. He even surpassed Luis Suarez as the all-time leading scorer in Conmebol WC qualifiers, with an impressive tally of 31 goals.
While Messi made a triumphant return, his former teammate at PSG and fellow Argentina player, Angel Di Maria, announced his retirement from the national team after the 2024 Copa America. It marks the end of an era for Di Maria, who has been a valuable asset for Argentina over the years.
Looking ahead, Messi’s schedule includes two international friendlies in China with Inter Miami and upcoming matches with the Argentine team. With his skills and determination, there’s no doubt that Messi will continue to make headlines and lead his team to success.
As it stands, Argentina currently leads the Conmebol standings with three wins, closely followed by Uruguay and Brazil. The competition is fierce, but with Messi in their ranks, Argentina has a strong chance of securing their spot in the World Cup.
