MADRID, 18 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Argentine team, current world champion, demonstrated once again its strength this Tuesday and added three new points in the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup by winning 0-2 against Peru with a double from Leo Messi, while Uruguay ended Brazil’s undefeated streak in this qualifying phase by winning by the same score.
Argentina continues to grow since the arrival of Lionel Scaloni and remains the sole leader of the classification and the only team that has been able to score full points after four days played, with five ahead of the rest.
On this occasion, the ‘Albiceleste’ did not give Peru too many options at the Monumental in Lima, where they could once again count on their ’10’, once again decisive. The American Inter Miami footballer scored the two winning goals and now has 31 in the South American Qualifiers, the most surpassing the tie he had with the Uruguayan Luis Suárez.
Leo Messi’s two goals came in the final stretch of the first 45 minutes. The first, just after half an hour and after a good pass from Nico González, and the second in the 42nd minute, which ended the hopes of a Peru that could not reduce the score in the second half, so Emiliano Martínez’s unbeaten streak now extends to 711 minutes.
On the other hand, at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay put an end to Brazil’s impeccable streak of 37 games without losing in the South American Qualifiers after defeating them with some authority 2-0 in a gray ‘Canarinha’ match.
The five-time world champion had not lost in this World Cup qualifying phase since 2015 when she lost to Chile in October (2-0), although her streak with the two-time world champion in these South American Qualifiers was even longer since she had not lost against her since year 2001.
In a contested match without many chances, Marleo Bielsa’s men were more effective and took the victory with goals from Darwin Núñez and Nico de la Cruz. Rodrygo Goes had the best for the visitors with a free kick that hit the woodwork with 1-0, while Neymar Jr was injured in the first half and could have a knee injury.
In addition, Venezuela confirmed its good start to the qualifying phase and achieved three important points at home by beating a Chile 3-0 that played more than half an hour with ten due to the expulsion of Marcelo Núñez when the match was 1-0 after the goal on the stroke of half-time by Yeferson Soteldo. Salomón Rondón and Granada player Darwin Machís sentenced.
Finally, Colombia added its third consecutive draw by drawing without goals on its visit to Ecuador, while Paraguay debuted its record of victories by winning 1-0, with a goal from Tony Sanabria in the second half, against a Bolivia that remains bottom and without points.