World Cup qualification –
Messi quarrels with referee in Argentina defeat
Argentina loses 1-2 in Paraguay. A foul on Messi causes trouble. Brazil managed a 1-1 draw against Venezuela.
Published today at 8:26 am
Lionel Messi does not agree with a referee’s decision.
Photo: Daniel Duarte (AFP)
World champion Argentina suffered its third defeat in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with captain Lionel Messi. The Albiceleste lost to hosts Paraguay 1:2 (1:1) in Asunción. The Argentines remain first in the table with 22 points. However, Colombia can equalize on points with a win against Uruguay on Saturday night.
Argentina’s coach: “We all saw what happened on the pitch…” And the defeat also caused trouble after the guests had taken the lead through Lautaro Martínez in the eleventh minute. Antonio Sanabria equalized just eight minutes later with an overhead kick. Shortly after the break, Omar Alderete scored to give Paraguay victory.
Alderete had already received a yellow card in the first half before he stopped Messi a few minutes later when he left his leg and the Argentine fell over it. Another yellow card, which Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni called for, was not given by Brazilian referee Anderson Daronco.
“I can say a lot of things, but it doesn’t make sense because it would seem like an excuse,” said Scaloni: “I don’t want people to take it as an excuse.” However, it was the second defeat in the last four qualifying games for the Argentines. Most recently, Scaloni’s team had once again dispatched Bolivia 6-0.
Brazil only with a draw
Arch-rivals and record world champions Brazil couldn’t get beyond a draw before Argentina’s defeat against Venezuela. National coach Dorival Júnior’s team missed their third win in a row with a 1-1 (1-0) away win. Real Madrid star Vinicius Júnior missed a penalty at the Estadio Monumental de Maturín.
The draw on matchday eleven saw Brazil jump to third place with 17 points in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The first six of ten teams qualify directly for the finals, the seventh-placed team has to go into relegation. (DPA)
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