ARG 1-0 ECU HIGHLIGHTS, FIFA World Cup qualifiers updates: Messi scores as Argentina beats Ecuador

We know that they are difficult matches in the qualifiers. Ecuador has very good players, they know what they are doing and they are very good physically.

It was a very tough match, very physical. I was a little tired so I went out but I felt good.

Not long ago we were world champions but it seems like a lot happened. We have to keep going, competing and qualifying for the next world championship, going game after game

And that is it. Argentina scrapes through, thanks to the in-form Messi. Not much to separate between the teams apart from an individual brilliance of a man. La Albiceleste will next take on Bolivia on September 13 while Ecuador will face Uruguay on the same day

Four added minutes

OUT: Messi IN: Palacios

Messi hands over his captain armband to Di Maria

De Paul finds Di Maria on the left side of the box. The latter shoots but the ball goes brushing past the crossbar!

Paredes is booked for a mindless challenge on Caicedo

Into the final ten minutes of the game

Messi takes the free kick. A very doable range for the Argentine skipper AND HE DOES IT IN STYLE. ARGENTINA TAKES THE LEAD VIA MESSI’s LEFT FOOTED FREE KICK! He just can’t stop scoring. Continues his rich vein of form from Inter Miami. He’s now scored 104 goals for Argentina in 167 games

OUT: Lautaro IN: Alvarez; OUT: Mac Allister IN: Paredes

Free kick for Argentina as Lautaro is fouled at the edge of the box

Superb pass from Molina towards Di Maria. Space was there but Pacho’s sliding tackle keeps him at bay

Rodriguez gets the ball inside the box. Tagliafico comes up with a timely interception as the Ecuadorian was about to take his shot

Terrific save from Galindez. A De Paul-Messi combo powered a dangerous looking attack. De Paul found Messi despite two marking defenders. Messi tries to find the bottom left corner but Galindez predicts it right

OUT: Cifuentes IN: Ortiz ; OUT: Plata IN: Rodriguez

Impact right from the get go from Di Maria. Wonderfully worked pass from Enzo to Di Maria. The latter then changes the line of play and finds Lautaro at the edge of the box but three defenders gang up to avert danger

OUT: Gonzalez IN: Di Maria

First yellow of the match and it’s for Cifuentes for his rash tackle on Otamendi

WHAT A DEFENSE FROM ROMERO! Valencia was running away from the defense and it was just Emi Martinez between him and a goal before Romero slid in to avert danger. The latter lets out an aggressive shout right in the face of Valencia but is off the hook with just a warning

Romero gets control of a well worked through ball on the right. Finds Lautaro inside the box. The latter tries to shoot but two defenders converge and force him to play it towards Messi. The skipper immediately finds Tagliafico, who tries a long-ranged finish but fails to keep it on target

De Paul gets fouled by Pacho and that’s a setpiece situation for La Albiceleste. But it’s from an awkward angle for Messi to take direct chances. Sends it in, a goal line clarance off Mac Allister’s shot!!

Molina serves in an inviting cross from the right flank but there’s no one to capitalise on it

Di Maria starts to warm up on the sidelines and the crowd goes bonkers

Gonzalez, Tagliafico, Enzo team up to initiate an attack. Tagliafico finally finds Enzo before the edge of the box, the latter tries his luck form long range but the ball is nowhere near the post

Superb set of moves from Messi as he almost evades a couple of defenders before being fouled. Advantage played, Molina takes the attack forward. The latter then finds Enzo in the middle and the ball then goes to Mac Allister but there are far too many defenders for the Liverpool man to do anything substantial

Corner for Argentina. Messi takes it as usual. He serves a curling cross but it is headed away by Torres for a throw in

Argentina starts the proceedings. No substitutions on either side thus far

And that puts an end to an entertaining first 45 minutes. Argentina, albiet being the more dominant side, hasn’t been able to find the opening and it all came down boiling at the stroke of half time when Lautaro hit the post. Another cracker of a half awaits

LAUTARO HITS THE CROSSBAR! Enzo sent it inside the box. Lautaro, marked by a couple of bodies, slided towards the ball and got a touch, only for it to crash onto the cross bar!

Dangerous looking long ball from Nico towards Messi. Torres gets there before anyone to head it out for a corner. One added minute

What a moment that would’ve been. Galindez takes his time to initiate the goal kick. Lautaro rushes towards him and gets a touch on the ball. Gonzalez on the left tries to pick it on the rebound but the ball goes out for a throw for Ecuador

Good looking pass from Otamendi towards De Paul on the right lane. But the ball travels faster than expected

Foul on Valencia as Ecuador gets a free kick. Plato serves it inside the box, Pacho tries to head it in but fails to keep it on target and it’s a goal kick

Corner for Ecuador as a long ball finds Molina’s head on the way out. Hurtado sends in a searching lofted ball but there’s no one to recieve it

Otamendi gifts possession near the half way line. Plata capitalises and makes a run towards goal. But Tagliafico cuts him off

WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY! Gonzalez gets the ball inside the ball on the right side. He plays one towards Lautaro but Torres gets there quickly to clear it. Corner for Argentina but nothing happens

Dangerous looking attack from Argentina. Messi, Enzo and Lautaro blaze past the midfield and get the ball near the edge of the box. Messi to Enzo to to Lautaro inside the box but the play gets intercepted by a couple of Ecuador defenders

Mistakes mounting now for Argentina. This time it’s Otamendi, who gives possession away and is forced to kick it out for a thrown in

Bad ball from Molina towards De Paul, who’s unable to take control. Would’ve been catastrophic for Argentina had Plato got hold of the ball.

Foul and this time it is by Enzo on Estupinan. Caicedo opts to backtrack as Ecuador makes moves cautiously

Caicedo fouls Messi again. The Chelsea man has looked off since the start of this game and the trend continues. Of course, Messi will take the free kick but will be from a long way out for him to try his luck. He floats one inside the box but it is in no man’s land

First shot of the game comes in the 15th minute. Superb one-two from Messi and Mac Allister. The latter feeds it to Messi just outside the box and the Argentine skipper lets it fly but the ball goes blazing past the crossbar. One of those rare occasions where he has missed an opportunity from that range. A missed chance for Messi’s standards!

Pacho and Estupinan tries to organise an attack. They make quick strides on the left lane but Molina is up for the challenge as he cuts Estupinan off

Free kick for Argentina. Messi takes it and floats one inside the box. Lautaro jumps to capitalise the volley but the ball goes straight into Galindez’s gloves

Caicedo is down and in pain. Looks like he’s hurt himself while challenging for the ball against Messi. Medical attention is required. But nothing serious, he’s up and running quickly

Ecuador has a stacked backline, with five defensive options and that has been a problem for Messi and Co. But they’ve looked threatening so far.

Mac Allister, from near the halfway line, attempts a lofted long ball in an attempt to find Gonzalez but looks like he’s exerted more power than desired as the ball runs away for a goal kick

Enzo to Gonzalez on the left. The latter tries to cross it inside the box towards Lautaro but gets intercepted

Link up play between Messi and De Paul kickstarts an attack. The former then plays it to Molina on the right flank, who pushes it inside the box but Pacho gets to the ball and clears it

Sedate start to the game. Argentina gained possession right after kickoff and has managed to keep the ball for quite a while, making Ecuador panic. Eventually leads to Caicedo pushing Tagliafico down

Ecuador gets the ball rolling and will start left to right

The players have entered the field and it’s time for national anthems. Ecuador’s anthem plays first. Two 100 million buys, both of whom play for Chelsea - Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, will be in action today!

The players are getting ready and will enter a packed Estadio Monumental stadium shortly. Obviously, the home team, Argentina, will get the maximum backing going into the clash

Argentina: W-W-W-W-W

Ecuador: W-W-W-L-L

Lionel Messi and his Argentina lineup will be back on World Cup duty this week, when their bid to defend the title starts in South American qualifying.

Argentina will face Moisés Caicedo’s Ecuador on Thursday at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium in its first official match since winning the World cup in December.

The last time a World Cup winner played in South American qualifying was in 2003, when Brazil had to secure its spot in a tournament with 32 teams.

The 2026 edition in the United States, Mexico and Canada is expanding to a 48-team format, which means the number of direct spots from South America increases from four to six and the seventh-place team goes into an intercontinental playoff for another place.

So teams like Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay are almost sure to advance from the round-robin qualification tournament that runs until September 2025. The new format has led many top coaches and players to see the tournament as preparation and an opportunity for renovation rather than a make-or-break competition.

The Argentina squad will be laden with World Cup winners, with the 36-year-old Messi joined by the likes of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, defender Nicolás Otamendi, midfielder Enzo Fernández and striker Julián Álvarez.

Since moving to the U.S. from Europe to join Inter Miami, Messi has scored 11 goals in MLS and is in good form.

Coach Lionel Scaloni is yet to lose a South American World Cup qualifying match, with Argentina’s last defeat in the tournament — in 2017 — coming before his tenure started.

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