Argentina took a significant step towards securing their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Peru on November 19, 2024, in the South American qualifiers. The match, held at the iconic Alberto José Armando Stadium in Buenos Aires, saw Lautaro Martinez score the decisive goal, assisted by none other than Lionel Messi, as Argentina bounced back from their disappointing loss to Paraguay in the previous match.
The match itself was a tightly contested affair, with both teams creating opportunities but failing to break the deadlock in the first half. Argentina had their best chance in the 21st minute when striker Julián Alvarez rattled the post, but the breakthrough came after the break. In the 55th minute, Messi delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, which Martinez latched onto with a clinical half-volley that found the top-right corner of the net, giving Argentina the lead. This goal marked Martinez’s 32nd international goal, pulling him level with the legendary Diego Maradona in fifth place on Argentina’s all-time goal-scoring list.
While Messi’s influence was crucial in the victory, his performance was again modest, similar to his outing in the 2-1 defeat against Paraguay. However, his assist to Martinez was enough to keep Argentina’s World Cup aspirations firmly on track. The win ensured that Argentina maintained their position at the top of the South American qualifying table, with 25 points from 12 matches.
On the other hand, Peru’s loss leaves them in a precarious situation, sitting at the bottom of the table with just seven points, making their chances of qualification increasingly slim.
Looking ahead, Argentina will not return to qualifying action until March 2025, when they face Brazil and Uruguay in key fixtures that will likely define their path to the 2026 World Cup. These matches are set to take place on March 20 and March 25, respectively. Argentina’s remaining qualifying fixtures will also see them take on Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador next year, as they aim to maintain their lead at the top of the standings.
As for the rest of the South American qualifiers, Uruguay and Brazil played out a 1-1 draw on the same day, with Uruguay remaining in second place behind Argentina with 20 points, while Brazil sits in fifth with 18 points, still in contention for a qualification spot.
