Argentina vs Paraguay: Otamendi’s Goal Secures 1-0 Win in Messi’s Return – Match Highlights and Score

Argentina vs Paraguay: Highlights of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Argentina vs Paraguay at the at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Argentina vs Paraguay: Otamendi’s Goal Secures 1-0 Win in Messi’s Return – Match Highlights and Score

The reigning World Cup champions, Argentina, played Paraguay in a CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying game on Thursday night in a highly anticipated contest. The action took place on the field in Buenos Aires, and it was Lionel Messi’s first game since his outstanding performance with the team on September 7th, when Argentina defeated Ecuador 1-0.

High hopes were placed in Messi, who did not let them down.

Argentina defeated Paraguay in Argentina vs Paraguay by the score of 1-0 when Messi came off the bench in the second half. In the third minute, Nicolas Otamendi scored his first goal in World Cup qualifying games with a strong effort from the right side of the box, stealing the show.

Argentina put up a terrific display thanks to the early goal. They remained in charge for the duration of the opening period, finishing with a commanding 75% of the possession. Only one shot was actually directed at the goal all night long for Paraguay, who had trouble even getting a shot off.

In the end, Argentina had cause to celebrate as they welcomed back their beloved Messi and displayed their talent against Paraguay in this CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying match.

Argentina had multiple chances to further increase their lead after Otamendi’s early goal, but they were unable to score. Goalkeeper Carlos Coronel of Paraguay made one of his three key stops in the 16th minute to keep out forward Lautaro Martinez’s great opportunity and prevent Argentina from scoring again.

Nicolas Gonzalez’s shot from the center of the box was Argentina’s next best effort in the opening period. In the 45th minute, it eluded Coronel’s outstretched fingertips but missed the far post by a mere foot.

Lionel Messi replaced Julian Alvarez in the game during the second half. He first resisted taking Otamendi’s armband as captain, but eventually he smiled and did it to signify his return to the national squad.

Messi had three mouthwatering opportunities to score in the second half. A corner kick barely missed the goal in the 76th minute, sailing over the top left corner. After stopping a shot from outside the area fifteen minutes later, Messi’s final free kick attempt from the left post went wide.

Emiliano Martinez, the goalie for Argentina, surpassed the record for the most uninterrupted goal-scoring streak in national team history, presently standing at 609 minutes. It was an incredible accomplishment that he hadn’t given up a goal against since the World Cup final against France in December.

The CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying tournament for Argentina continues with a match against Peru the following week on October 17.

Since they had previously achieved three victories out of three in the qualification games, the current World Cup champions didn’t really need their hero.

At the Estadio Monumental on Thursday, during Argentina’s World Cup Qualifying match versus Paraguay, Lionel Messi finally made his first start. It turned out, though, that Argentina didn’t actually need him there to take care of Paraguay.

Argentina promptly scored a goal from a surprising source—a well-known player—leading them to a 1-0 triumph. The improbable hero? Within three minutes, defender Nicolas Otamendi fired an incredible volley. Argentina, meanwhile, never turned back.

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The midfield combination of Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, and Enzo Fernandez excelled, and Paraguay had little chance of winning the match. It appeared as though the game was headed in just one direction until Messi entered the game early in the second half to replace the brilliant Julian Alvarez.