Lionel Messi will play his final match in the calendar year on Tuesday with the Argentine national team in a World Cup 2026 qualifying match against Peru in Buenos Aires.
Messi’s busy 2024 will come to an end. But can Messi end it on a high note?
Messi is riding a personal, three-game losing streak: Argentina lost 2-1 to Paraguay last week, and Inter Miami dropped its final two games of its first-round series to Atlanta United in the MLS Cup playoffs earlier this month.
It’s just the third three-game skid in Messi’s career.
Argentina has also lost two of its last four games – a surprising outcome for the defending World Cup champions and back-to-back Copa America winners.
“We have to know that we can lose. Fortunately, we have had many positive results,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said during a press conference Monday. “Losing and seeing how the team recovers also gives us good reflections.”
Here’s what you need to know about Tuesday’s Argentina-Peru game:
The match begins 7 p.m. ET (7 p.m. in Peru, 8 p.m. Argentina)
The match will be available on Telemundo, and to live stream on fuboTV and ViX.
Yes, Messi is expected to start and captain Argentina against Peru.
The odds are stacked in Argentina’s favor for Tuesday’s match vs. Peru.
Argentina is a -650 favorite to win, while Peru has +1600 odds in the match. A tie has +625 odds. The over/under is 2.5 goals, via BETMGM.
Despite losing two of their last four, Argentina has won 64 of its last 69 games.
The fact gives Scaloni confidence his club can right the ship on Tuesday.
“We’re going into tomorrow’s game with the feeling that we’ve been together for a long time,” Scaloni said. “Beyond the results, whether we’ve played well or badly, their response is always wonderful. They’re here and they’re happy.”
Here are the last five losses for Argentina:
The MLS postseason continues this weekend without Messi and Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami.
On Saturday: New York City FC hosts New York Red Bulls at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y. at 5:30 p.m. ET. LAFC hosts Seattle Sounders FC inside BMO Stadium in Los Angeles at 10:30 p.m. ET
On Sunday: Orlando City SC hosts Atlanta United in Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium at 3:30 p.m. ET, followed by L.A. Galaxy hosting Minnesota United FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles at 6 p.m.
All matches will be available to live stream via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Messi has turned Inter Miami into a global brand, leading the upstart MLS club to a Leagues Cup title in 2023 and the Supporters’ Shield in 2024.
Messi is under contract with Inter Miami through the end of 2025 MLS season. Inter Miami has a chance to win as many as five titles next year, including another MLS Cup title chase and participating in the Club World Cup next summer.
If all goes well – meaning Messi stays healthy next year – Messi could consider playing in the 2026 World Cup, hosted in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
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