The Inter Miami player played 40 minutes and sent two balls to the posts
The world champion won by the minimum with a goal from Nico Otamendi
Triumph of the world champion by the minimum thanks to an early goal by Nico Otamendi against Paraguay on the third day of the qualifying rounds for the 2026 World Cup. Argentina is in full swing, three games played, three victories.
Against Paraguay, this morning, Leo Messi has been a substitute. He is coming off an injury and it was agreed upon with his coach, Lionel Scaloni, who gave him the last 40 minutes of the game. so that he could participate in the great offensive production of a team that has deserved a much larger victory.
Argentine players celebrate Nico Otamendi’s goal
| EFE
Scaloni’s team has only been able to pierce Carlos Coronel’s goal once, thanks to a shot by Otamendi following a corner kick taken by Rodrigo de Paul, but there have been countless opportunities, including two goals from Messi, one after a corner kick that narrowly missed becoming an Olympic goal and another after a foul.
Argentina has been much superior to a Paraguayan team that had a new coach, Daniel Garnero, and that has been surpassed by a great midfield formed by Enzo Fernández, McAllister and De Paul, with Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez as the most advanced men before of Messi’s departure.
Argentina will visit Lima in the early hours of next Wednesday on the fourth day of this qualifying phase for the 2026 World Cup.