Lionel Messi will place a bow on a historic year Tuesday night when the Argentine national team faces Peru in a World Cup qualifying match in Buenos Aires, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
It will be the final game of the calendar year for Messi, who helped Argentina win its second straight Copa America title and led Inter Miami to the Supporters’ Shield title in Major League Soccer.
“Looking forward to being back together with everyone tomorrow for the last game of another unforgettable year,” Messi said in an Instagram post Monday.
Argentina cemented itself as one of soccer’s greatest dynasties this summer, winning Copa America 2024 after winning Copa America 2021 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Argentina hopes to end its year with a victory against Peru, despite entering the match losing two of its last four.
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Meanwhile, Messi hopes to end a personal three-game skid as his busy year comes to an end. He also needs a new MLS coach next year after Inter Miami’s Tata Martino resigned Tuesday.
Follow along here for live updates from Tuesday’s Argentina-Peru match:
We’re all tied at halftime. Messi lined up a free kick after Rodrigo De Paul was fouled, but his kick sailed to the right side of the net and was deflected by a Peruvian defender. One minute later, Messi had another free kick but Alexis Mac Allister headed it over the net.
Messi was tripped up in the 36th minute, and sent his free kick into the box. But he was unable to connect with Alexis Mac Allister in front of the net.
Gonzalo Montiel missed an opportunity in front of the net a minute later.
Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister missed a header in the 24th minute.
Argentina had the numbers, but a shot by Julian Alvarez was blocked at the net in the 22nd minute.
Messi was high and wide on a shot in the 20th minute. He was also tripped up by Peru’s Alexander Callens after a series of dribbles that excited the Argentine crowd at La Bombonera in the 18th minute.
Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel had a close chance near the net, but was unable to convert in the 13th minute.
Argentina’s Nicolás Tagliafico sent a left boot over the net, ending a sequence created by Messi in the fourth minute.
The match will be available on Telemundo, and can be live streamed via fuboTV and ViX.
The match begins at 7 p.m. ET (7 p.m. in Peru, 8 p.m. in Argentina).
Yes, Messi is expected to start and captain Argentina against Peru.
Here are the starters for both clubs on Tuesday night:
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.
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Inter Miami coach Tata Martino resigned Tuesday, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke under the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the news.
The move is a sour ending to Martino’s run as Inter Miami coach after a historic season, during which the club won the MLS Supporters’ Shield but was bounced in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs earlier this month.
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 of Messi’s career.
In April 2014, Messi and Barcelona lost the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid 1-0, a La Liga match against Granada 1-0, and the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid 2-1.
In April 2016, Messi and Barcelona lost a La Liga match against Real Sociedad 1-0, the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal to Atletico Madrid 2-0, and a La Liga match to Valencia 2-1.
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Argentina would maintain the No. 1 FIFA ranking with a win vs. Peru on Tuesday night. It’s on an incredible run, winning 64 of its last 69 games.
Argentina leads the Conmebol World Cup qualifying rankings, and will likely clinch its spot in the 2026 World Cup early next year.
Messi, however, was unable to help Inter Miami advance to the second round of the MLS Cup playoffs.
The MLS postseason continues Saturday as New York City FC hosts the New York Red Bulls at 5:30 p.m. ET, then LAFC hosts Seattle Sounders FC at 10:30 p.m. ET
On Sunday, Orlando City SC hosts Atlanta United at 3:30 p.m. ET, followed by the L.A. Galaxy hosting Minnesota United FC at 6 p.m. ET.
All four matches will be available via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
