Argentina’s forward #22 Lautaro Martinez celebrates with Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi after … [+]
Lautaro Martínez has returned to Europe after a long week on international duty where he managed to pick up a fever and so has just missed Inter Milan’s victory against Verona today. However, the Internazionale club captain and star striker scored twice for his country during an up and down international window for the World champions.
Argentina registered a defeat in Paraguay and a victory at home to Peru in match days 11 and 12 of South American FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying.
Lautaro Martínez scored in both of those games, and was the only Argentina player to find the net as they lost 2-1 in the first game and won 1-0 in the second. Argentina didn’t excel in either encounter, at times talisman Lionel Messi looked lost and frustrated and the team in general performed under par.
Despite some poor showings recently and just two wins in their last five World Cup qualifying encounters, Argentina is still on top of the South American qualifying table, leading Uruguay by five points. Perhaps such a comforting position is another reason why we haven’t seen the best of Messi’s men of late.
ASUNCION, PARAGUAY – NOVEMBER 14: Lionel Messi of Argentina prepares to take a free kick during the … [+]
In 2025 Argentina will travel to Uruguay for its next game before hosting Brazil in a difficult week of fixtures in March. Then in their remaining four games tough fixtures like Colombia at home and Ecuador away still await.
Argentina flattered to deceive in their visit to Paraguay and an early Lautaro goal was soon cancelled out by an inspired performance from Paraguay, who really deserved the three points on the night.
A few days later Argentina hosted lowly Peru in Buenos Aires and a Lionel Messi cross and magical volley from Lautaro made the difference in the game, but the home side were far from spectacular and created little else in the fixture against a poor visiting team.
Watching both of those games you would be forgiven for thinking this Argentina side don’t look like contenders for the FIFA 2026 World Cup. They looked lacking in movement, ideas and intensity. However the ‘Albiceleste’ are top of the league for a reason, they have passed tougher tests than these, and the World Cup is still a long way from now. Let’s see how Messi and company fair when they return to action in March.
LUSAIL CITY, QATAR – DECEMBER 18: Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates with the FIFA World Cup Qatar … [+]
