Argentina marked the beginning of their journey towards the 2026 World Cup with a captivating 1-0 triumph over Ecuador, courtesy of a mesmerizing free-kick by none other than their captain, Lionel Messi.
While Argentina dominated ball possession, they had their work cut out against a resilient Ecuadorian defense. The breakthrough came in the 77th minute when Inter Miami's star player, Messi, once again underlined his unparalleled prowess on the football field, converting a free-kick into the only goal of the match.
In a post-match interaction, Messi acknowledged Ecuador's robust gameplay, noting the increased pressure as reigning World Cup champions with every team aiming to best them. Stressing Argentina's primary goal of securing a berth in the upcoming World Cup, he expressed his gratitude for the team's performance.
"We played against a great team, with good players and physically strong," Messi told reporters, as quoted by Reuters.
"Everyone always wants to beat Argentina and even more so now that we are the world champions. We can't relax, we have to improve on what we've been doing.
"The objective is to qualify for the World Cup again. We really enjoyed what we did but we have to look ahead," he added.
With this stellar free-kick, Messi equaled Luis Suarez's record for the most goals in South American World Cup qualifiers, reaching a commendable tally of 29. Messi mentioned his elation to share this esteemed position alongside his close friend, Suarez.
"It's a pleasure for me that we are both there. Given what the qualifiers mean for us in South American football, it's a very nice thing for both of us," said Messi.
Argentina is now gearing up for their next challenge, facing Bolivia in an away match next Tuesday. In other CONMEBOL qualifiers, Paraguay and Peru concluded with a 0-0 draw, while Colombia clinched a 1-0 victory at home against Venezuela. The action resumes this Friday, with Uruguay welcoming Chile and Brazil squaring off against Bolivia.
With the qualifiers in full swing, football enthusiasts eagerly await more moments of magic, particularly from the likes of football legends like Messi.
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