Lionel Messi’s Argentina are coming from losing their last match against Paraguay in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. Now, their top spot at the FIFA rankings is also in danger due to France’s last win.
By Natalia Lobo
By Natalia Lobo
Lionel Messi‘s Argentina have been at the top of Men’s FIFA rankings for the past 18 months, even surpassing their own previous record of 11 months. However, Lionel Scaloni’s men can lose their lead if they fail to win against Peru in their upcoming match after France’s last victory.
Argentina are coming from a 2-1 defeat to Paraguay in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, which made them lose 5.52 points. Meanwhile, France, who are second, won their last match against Italy (3-1), which added them 7.93 points.
To maintain their streak, La Albiceleste need to take the three points against Jorge Fossati’s men at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires. Currently, Peru sit bottom of the qualifying table and have picked up just one win from their 11 games so far.
While Argentina have been the most consistent team in the Conmebol Qualifying, they have had some setbacks in their most recent away matches. As visitors, they lost to Colombia (2-1), tied with Venezuela (1-1) and were defeated by Paraguay.
Lionel Messi of Argentina reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 South American Qualifier
However, as locals, the current World Cup champions have been unstoppable. In their last two matches on home soil, they have thrashed Chile (3-0) and Bolivia (6-0). But, as they still lead the standings with 22 points, Uruguay and Colombia are closing in on the top spot with 19 points.
After the match against Paraguay, Argentina lost two key players in the squad: Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero and Nahuel Molina, who won’t be available to play against Peru. Romero was subbed off at halftime at Defensores del Chaco, while Molina left the pitch at 77th minute.
According to journalist Gaston Edul, Guiliano Simeone has joined the squad for the match against Peru. He also said that Leonardo Balerdi and Gonzalo Montiel could be the ones to replace them.
Natalia is a sports journalist at Bolavip US, where she covers soccer, tennis, and the broader sports world. She also works as an entertainment journalist at Spoiler US, focusing on the film industry, series, reality TV, and celebrity news. With a diverse background that includes reporting on sports, fashion, and culture, she brings a rich and varied perspective to her current roles. Natalia holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Media from the Universidad Central of Venezuela (UCV) and has over eight years of experience in digital media. She has previously contributed her bilingual skills in English and Spanish to outlets such as Revista Exclusiva and Cambio16.
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