Argentina captain Lionel Messi lobs the ball over the goalkeeper’s head during a training session to prepare for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
On October 11, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) posted a video of the team practicing. In it, Messi received the ball and played in front of two defenders. When he discovered that the goalkeeper had rushed out, the captain immediately lobbed the ball past all three players to score.
On October 13, Argentina will play the third qualifying round match, hosting Paraguay in Buenos Aires. On October 17, the defending World Cup champion will be a guest at Peru. It is currently unclear whether Messi will start these two matches. Messi scored the decisive free kick in the opening match, a 1-0 win over Ecuador, but sat out the 3-0 win over Bolivia in the second round.
Argentina is currently ranked second in the South American qualifying round. They have the same six points as leading team Brazil, but have a lower difference. The South American qualifying round includes 10 teams, with the top six teams going straight to the final round. The team ranked seventh must compete for tickets with representatives from other continents.
Messi has had physical problems since the training session in September. After returning to Inter Miami Club and getting injured in the match against Toronto FC, the 36-year-old striker had to rest for the next four matches. While Messi was out, Inter Miami lost the US Cup final and failed to qualify for the MLS Cup play-off round. On October 7, Messi returned when he came on as a substitute in a 0-1 loss to FC Cincinnati.
Messi celebrates a goal in the Argentina – Ecuador match on September 7. Photo: AFP
Messi’s arrival in the club made a difference for the team, which qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs.
Messi spent the first eight years of his career with Barcelona, winning 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, and six Spanish Super Cups.
He also won the World Cup Golden Ball in 2014 in Brazil. He is the all-time top scorer for both Barcelona and Argentina.
Messi is the most decorated player in history with 35
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