Argentina captain Lionel Messi faced some intense heat from Paraguay fans in the team’s World Cup Qualifiers match. Messi, who has been a talisman for Argentina for many years got water bottles chucked at him by Paraguay fans in the team’s 1-2 loss on 15 November.
After the game, Paraguay defender Omar Alderete apologised to Lionel Messi for the behaviour of the fans and said that it is not a reflection of the love the rest of the country feels for the legendary player.
“Dear Leo Messi, I want to apologize on behalf of my country for the unfortunate incident in which someone threw a bottle at you. You are an idol for millions here and around the world (especially for Fede)”, he wrote.
“We deeply regret this disrespectful act that does not represent the affection and admiration we feel for you”, he added.
Argentina vs Paraguay
Paraguay secured a well-deserved 2-1 victory over Argentina in the South American World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, with Antonio Sanabria scoring a stunning bicycle kick and Omar Alderete adding a second-half header.
Argentina took the lead early, in the 11th minute, when Enzo Fernandez played a precise ball to Lautaro Martinez. Martinez fired a powerful shot into the net, which was initially flagged offside, but after a VAR review, the goal was awarded.
Paraguay responded quickly. Gustavo Gomez came close to equalizing with a header that struck the crossbar, before Sanabria produced a moment of magic. From a cross by Gustavo Velazquez, Sanabria executed a brilliant overhead kick that left Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez stranded, bringing the game level at 1-1.
The visitors struggled to regain their composure, with captain Lionel Messi largely anonymous in the first half, managing only one shot that went wide. Messi was also fouled twice by Paraguay’s Alderete, but the referee chose not to show a second yellow card before the break.
Two minutes into the second half, Paraguay took the lead. Alderete rose highest to head in a free kick delivered by Julio Enciso, after a foul by Argentina’s Leonardo Balerdi.
Argentina’s best chance to equalize came in the 70th minute when Rodrigo de Paul broke free on a counter-attack but miscontrolled the ball, and his shot went wide. Paraguay’s defense stood firm, and Argentina’s errors continued to mount.
“Overall, I think we played a great game. We controlled possession. Both of their goals came from mistakes on our part, and we need to fix our lapses in defending set pieces,” said Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez after the match.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged the challenge posed by Paraguay’s solid defense: “The goal early in the second half made things more difficult for us. We have to give credit to the opponent, who defended very well.”
With the win, Paraguay remains in sixth place with 16 points, just behind Ecuador and Uruguay on goal difference. Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, top the qualifying table with 22 points from 11 matches. They will host Peru on Tuesday.
In other matches, Ecuador triumphed 4-0 over Bolivia, while Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela, leaving them in third place with 17 points.
The top six teams in the qualifiers will earn automatic spots in the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
