Argentina’s Strong Return:
Nine months after their World Cup 2022 triumph, La Albiceleste made their official return to the pitch, facing Ecuador in the South American World Cup qualifiers. Under the guidance of manager Lionel Scaloni, Argentina had previously won all four of their friendly matches without conceding a single goal.
Solid Defense:
The defensive solidity that characterized Argentina’s World Cup-winning campaign extended into their match against Ecuador. The goal of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez remained unbreached in the contest held in Buenos Aires on September 8 (Vietnam time).
Starting Strong:
Argentina fielded a formidable lineup, with nine players who had featured in the World Cup 2022 final against France included in the starting XI in a 4-3-3 formation. In contrast, the visitors adopted a more defensive approach with a 5-3-2 formation.
Ball Dominance:
With Argentina controlling a whopping 71% of the possession throughout the match, the outcome was unsurprising. Right from the outset, except for Martinez, all ten outfield players of Argentina were present in Ecuador’s half.
Limited Scoring Opportunities:
However, the tight quarters resulting from the closely marked Ecuadorian defense limited Argentina’s clear-cut scoring chances. Over the course of the game, Argentina managed just nine attempts on goal, with only three finding their target.
Closest Opportunity:
The closest Argentina came to breaking the deadlock was in first-half injury time when striker Lautaro Martinez struck the woodwork following a low cross from Rodrigo de Paul.
Messi’s Moment:
In the 78th minute, Lionel Messi rose to the occasion. His beautifully executed free-kick left goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez with no chance to intervene. This marked Messi’s 104th goal in his 176th appearance for the national team, leaving him just four goals shy of Iran’s Ali Daei. Cristiano Ronaldo currently holds the record for the most international goals, with 123 in over 200 appearances for Portugal.
Next Challenge:
After securing three points in their opening match of the South American World Cup 2026 qualifiers, Argentina’s next test will be an away fixture against Bolivia on September 12.
Free-Kick Maestro:
Messi has now scored 65 free-kick goals in his career, matching the record held by former midfielder David Beckham. Five of these free-kick goals have come in 2023, with 11 in an Argentina jersey and four during World Cup qualifiers. This goal also marked Messi’s 29th strike in World Cup qualifiers, tying him with Uruguay’s Luis Suarez.
Messi’s remarkable free-kick and Argentina’s victory signal their intent to continue their dominant run in international football. As Messi inches closer to rewriting history, football fans can anticipate more moments of brilliance from the legendary GOAT in the coming matches.
