© AFP
His fun and excellent form at the American Inter Miami, he now also extends to the Argentinian national team. Lionel Messi helped Argentina to a narrow victory at the start of the World Cup qualifying series. In Buenos Aires, Ecuador was beaten 1-0 by a goal from the star player. It was Argentina’s first official game as world champions.
The match against Ecuador was played in El Monumental, River Plate’s stadium. It was the first match in the World Cup qualifying campaign for the South American clubs. The top six of the ten in the group qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup.
For Argentina, that campaign already started successfully. Fifteen minutes before the end, Lionel Messi gave his country the first three-pointer with a striking free kick. It marked his 29th ever goal in World Cup qualifying, leveling him with Luis Suárez of Uruguay, his close friend and former FC Barcelona teammate.
Argentina took the world title in Qatar at the end of last year after beating France. But that is no guarantee that the road to a new world title will go smoothly again. “We have to be aware that we really enjoyed everything, but what we did is behind us. We have to look ahead,” said 36-year-old Messi in Buenos Aires, where the game was watched by 80,000 spectators.
“We know we have to give 100 per cent in every game to get it done. But we showed that this group would not relax until we achieved this, something historic and extraordinary.”
And so Messi continues his good form at Inter Miami with the national team. Hurdle two will follow on Tuesday, September 12: Argentina will then compete against Bolivia.
