Nicolás Otamendi (3.5): Had difficulty keeping up with the attackers in his sector, whether Enciso or Sanabria. He was not strong in aerial duels.
Nicolás Tagliafico (4): Advance with determination but lacked clarity in the final third.
Rodrigo De Paul (4.5): Didn’t dribble effectively, and his ball progression was mostly predictable. He had a chance to equalize but missed.
Enzo Fernández (5.5): Played cleanly, delivering incisive passes and putting Lautaro Martínez in position for Argentina’s goal. He became less influential in the second half.
Alexis Mac Allister (3.5): Has remained largely anonymous. He touched the ball very few times and failed to deliver passes that would move the game forward.
Lionel Messi (4.5): Ran back to help circulate the ball in attack. His presence demanded increased attention from rivals, but he did not significantly influence the final third.
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Lautaro Martínez (5.5): Scored a goal with a clever run and precise finish. With limited team service, he sought to position himself in attack almost without receiving the ball.
Julián Álvarez (3.5): Stayed on the left flank and did not contribute effectively while staying in that area.
Leonardo Balerdi (3.5): Did not know how to provide security. Struggled to keep his markers under control when the Paraguayan team counterattacked.
Alejandro Garnacho (4.5): Attempted numerous dribbles down the left but found little success.
Leandro Paredes (-): Came in to improve midfield control following Fernández’s tepid performance. Like the other midfielders, he missed the decisive pass.
Gonzalo Montiel (-): Came in to add width to the attack but failed to make an impact.
Valentín Castellanos (-): Had a chance to equalize with a header in injury time but failed to score.
Lionel Scaloni (4.5): The attitude of attacking and taking responsibility was once again the hallmark of the Argentine team. However, they lacked creativity, variation and the ability to surprise. The defensive aggressiveness that characterizes them was also notably absent. They left too many advantages, especially on set pieces against them.
