The tough times for Lionel Messi continue as, in a thrilling match at the Defensores del Chaco stadium, Paraguay came from behind to beat Argentina 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. Despite an early goal by Lautaro Martinez, Argentina couldn’t maintain their lead as Paraguay scored two goals in the second half. This defeat means Argentina has now gone three away matches in the World Cup Qualifiers without a win.
Messi is having some bad days currently. Recently, Messi’s current club, Inter Miami, also faced disappointment in the MLS as they were eliminated from the playoffs after losing Game 3 of their first-round series to Atlanta United on Saturday.
Argentina’s early lead
The match started with a bang. In the 11th minute, Enzo Fernandez made a perfect pass to Lautaro Martinez, who scored past Paraguay’s goalkeeper. This goal was Martinez’s 31st for Argentina, tying him with Gonzalo Higuain as one of the country’s top scorers. But Paraguay responded quickly. In the 19th minute, Antonio Sanabria scored a brilliant bicycle kick, making the score 1-1 and surprising Argentina’s defense. The hosts, now full of energy, gained confidence after this fantastic goal.
The second half started with more drama. Just after the break, Omar Alderete scored from a free-kick, putting Paraguay 2-1 ahead. Argentina couldn’t find a way to break Paraguay’s strong defense.
Argentina’s missed chances
Even though Argentina had more of the ball, they lacked creativity and could not finish their chances. In the 79th minute, Lionel Messi came close with a long shot, but it just missed. Julian Alvarez also had a chance, but his header in the last minutes went wide. Meanwhile, Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made some key saves, including stopping a dangerous free-kick from Ramon Sosa.
Late substitutes and final push
With the score still 2-1, Argentina made some substitutions, bringing on Leandro Paredes and Alejandro Garnacho in an attempt to make a comeback. But Paraguay held firm, and when the final whistle blew, they had earned a well-deserved 2-1 victory. This defeat is another tough result for Argentina, who have now failed to win their last three away matches in the World Cup Qualifiers.
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