Lionel Messi’s Goal Secures Argentina’s Victory Against Ecuador in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Introduction: Lionel Messi’s brilliance shone once again as he scored a crucial goal in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, leading Argentina to a 1-0 victory against Ecuador. Regardless of where Messi plays, his quest to shine as one of football’s greatest stars continues.
Key Highlights: In the 78th minute, Messi delivered a stunning free-kick goal, securing Argentina’s win over Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup Qualifying match. This marked Messi’s return to international football after the 2022 World Cup final.
After the goal, Messi celebrated with his teammates, and despite the chilly temperatures in Buenos Aires, Argentina, fans at the Monumental Stadium cheered wildly, surrounding him.
This goal added to Messi’s already impressive tally, having scored numerous times for both MLS team Inter Miami and during his illustrious career with Argentina.
Argentina vs Ecuador
What’s Next for Lionel Messi and Argentina?
Argentina aims to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup. With the victory over Ecuador, they now have three points in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, while Ecuador finished with a deficit of three points.
Due to the expanded format of the 2026 World Cup, six South American teams will directly qualify, and the seventh team will participate in the FIFA playoff tournament.
Lionel Messi’s Upcoming Matches:
Lionel Messi, will continue representing Argentina in the World Cup Qualifiers. Following the Ecuador match, he is set to play against Bolivia on September 12th at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz.
Messi’s Club Commitments: On the club front, Messi won’t be featuring in the match against Sporting Kansas City at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. His availability for Inter Miami’s match against Atlanta United on September 16th may be affected due to his international duties.
Future Participation in World Cup: As for his future in the World Cup, it remains uncertain whether the 36-year-old Messi will play in the 2024 Copa America or the 2026 World Cup for Argentina, or if he will retire from international competitions.
In a televised interview in July, Lionel Messi expressed, “I don’t know when it will happen. It will happen when it happens. It’s hard for someone to expect it to be soon, given my age, but I don’t know for sure.”
While the World Cup final was initially thought to be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup appearance, Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, suggested that Messi might return for the next World Cup. Scaloni stated, “I think Messi can reach the next World Cup. It will largely depend on what he wants, how he feels. The door will always be open. He’s happy on the field, and that’s great for us.”
Lionel Messi Leads Argentina to Victory in World Cup”
Lionel Messi put on a spectacular performance, scoring two goals and converting a penalty kick, as Argentina defeated France 3-3 (4-2 on penalties) in the 2022 World Cup final held last December.
In what could be considered one of the greatest World Cup finals, LIONEL MESSI’s prowess helped Argentina become world champions, defeating France and their star player, Kylian Mbappé, who scored a hat-trick.
LIONEL MESSI was honored with the Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament’s best player.
How Has Lionel Messi’s Life Changed After Winning the World Cup? After winning the World Cup, Messi played a crucial role in helping Paris Saint-Germain clinch consecutive French Ligue 1 titles. However, his club faced an early exit from the Champions League in the Round of 16 in March.
Lionel Messi’s last game with PSG was in June, and he made the decision to join Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer (MLS) at the end of July.
“I made the decision to come here. I wanted to come here. And it’s a decision we took over time. It’s not something that was decided from one day to the next. Leaving Barcelona, where I spent my entire life, made me land in a completely different place, but it’s a unique experience,” Messi stated during a press conference on August 17th in Miami.
How Has Lionel-Messi Performed with Inter Miami? Lionel Messi has showcased his global stardom with Inter Miami, scoring 11 goals in his first 11 matches. In eight games, he found the back of the net, and he provided assists in two other victories. As of the end of July, Inter Miami holds a 10-1-0 (win-draw-loss) record with Messi.
On August 19th, Lionel Messi helped Inter Miami secure the Leagues Cup title, and on September 27th, the club will compete in the U.S. Culmination Match Against the Houston Dynamo in the Open Cup.
However, in the MLS playoff race, Inter Miami faces stiff competition, currently trailing D.C. United by eight points in the Eastern Conference standings.”