One way to express it is that Lionel Messi has come back.
Argentina defeated Peru 2-0 on Tuesday night at Estadio Nacional de Lima in Lima, Peru, in their 2026 World Cup qualifying match. Messi scored two goals and played the full ninety-three minutes.
Messi looked fit and focused, playing the entire game and scoring his first goal since suffering a right leg injury against Argentina on September 7 that limited him for the majority of his previous six weeks with MLS team Inter Miami.
At one point, Messi was so quick and aggressive that he twice knocked down a Peruvian defender while dribbling back and forth on the goal line before crossing the midfield line. With his two goals in the first half, he was a smart spotter, trailing his teammates on both plays until firing open shots into the goal.
“Messi’s health is the most vital factor. After the game, which saw Argentina maintain its top spot in the CONMEBOL Standings with 12 points, coach Lionel Scaloni of Argentina commented, “He manages the minutes alone.”
For his first goal, Messi trailed down the centre of the box and received a pass from Nicolás González on a golden platter. In the thirty-second minute, his left boot found the upper right corner of the net, and he jumped over a downed Peruvian defender to start the celebrations with his teammates.
A brace came ten minutes later, as Messi was set up for a left boot into the lower left corner of the net by Enzo Fernández’s pass in the 42nd minute.
As the second half got going, Messi persisted in his relentless pursuit of a hat trick. However, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2022 World Cup champion did not have the same spectacular moments from at least three opportunities, including a free kick in the 88th minute.
“We enjoy our extremely unique style of play and our excellent players. After the victory, Messi stated of the Argentine national team, “We want to keep going in this direction. We’re expecting to keep expanding,” Messi continued.
Messi’s comeback is belated for American MLS supporters.
Fans who haven’t seen Messi play in the past month in places like Atlanta, Orlando, Chicago, and his home field in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, may find his comeback underwhelming. He was absent from six Inter Miami games, including the team’s defeat to Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup final.
Messi’s debut MLS season will come to an end since he will not feature in Inter Miami’s final two games, which are scheduled for this Wednesday at home against Charlotte FC and this Saturday away from the same team.
On October 7, Messi made his Inter Miami comeback against FC Cincinnati in the second half. The 1-0 loss destroyed the team’s postseason ambitions, and it felt more like a tune-up before Messi returned to Argentina for these two matches.
Messi showed some rust last Thursday when he came off the bench for Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Paraguay, striking the goalpost twice in the second half.
But on Tuesday night, Lionel Messi didn’t look rusty at all.
Messi appeared to be back to his previous level. Just as he did when he initially joined Inter Miami and guided the team to their historic first championship and their exciting run in the Leagues Cup competition in late July and early August.
What does Leo Messi do next?
Lots of traveling and a little relaxation.
Messi’s calendar will be dominated by two international friendly in China that Inter Miami announced at the start of November.
Nov. 5 at the Qingdao Youth Football Stadium will see Inter Miami play Qingdao Hainiu F.C., and Nov. 8 at Phoenix Hill Sports Park will see Inter Miami play Chengdu Rongcheng.
Messi is probably going to be back with the Argentina team for their matches against Brazil on November 21 and Uruguay on November 16.
67′: Messi fouls and misses, Argentina 2, Peru 0.
This second half has seen no slowdown in Leo Messi’s aggressiveness. His desire is a hat trick. Yet he hasn’t yet scored his third objective.
The goalie blocked Messi’s effort in the 67th minute as he was inside the goal box. While lying on the field, Messi attempted to make a play with the ball and was flagged for a foul.
Messi got another opportunity a minute later, but it was missed.
Almost a hat trick for Messi: Argentina 2, Peru 0.
Leo Messi celebrated by throwing his hands in the air and giving his teammates hugs.
A Peruvian player diverted a kick in the goal area straight to Messi, who was standing next to the net. In minute 57, Messi booted it into the net.
However, Argentina was determined to be offside following a VAR review.
Messi was denied a chance at a hat trick and his third goal of the game.
In 42′, Messi scores again, placing Argentina 2 ahead of Peru 0.
Hey Leo Messi, welcome back.
Argentina had a 2-0 lead over Peru in the first half thanks to a goal from Messi in the 42nd minute.
Lionel Messi followed the play, exactly as he had ten minutes prior to his first goal. Messi’s left boot completed the task.
Messi kicked the pass into the back of the net after receiving it from Julián Álvarez.
Lionel Messi is making his first start since September 7 with a brace.
Argentina 1, Peru 0 after Messi’s goal in the 32nd minute.
Messi trailed down the center of the box and received a pass that seemed to come from heaven.
And Lionel Messi performed his best action.
In the 32nd minute, Lionel Messi’s left boot contacted the ball, which struck the upper right corner of the net to give Argentina a 1-0 lead over Peru.
Messi celebrated his goal with his Argentine teammates, even leaping over a Peruvian defender following his kick.
It’s Messi’s first goal since he helped Argentina defeat Ecuador 1-0 on September 7, the match in which he suffered an injury that sidelined him for the majority of the previous six weeks.
In 11′, Messi misses a free kick; Argentina 0, Peru 0.
After playing with aggression in the first few minutes, Messi was awarded a free kick in the eleventh minute.
In the ninth minute, Nilson Loyola of Peru tripped Messi just outside the right side of the box, setting him up for the goal.
However, Pedro Gallese, the Peruvian goaltender, caught Messi’s high kick in the middle of the net.
In his first start in almost a month, Messi has already attempted two kicks toward the goal.
In 3′, Messi misses; Peru 0, Argentina 0.
Lionel Messi wasted little time in taking his first attempt at goal.
Lionel Messi skated barely outside the right goal post with his left kick shortly after the three-minute mark.
Messi in the starting lineup for Argentina
Argentina’s starting lineup is as follows:
What was said about Messi by the coach of Argentina?
On Monday, Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni provided a positive health update regarding Messi.
Lionel Messi has been training, so he’s fine. On Tuesday, we will make the decision,” he said to reporters.
How much of a role will Lionel Messi have versus Peru? After Messi and Scaloni meet, a decision regarding his playing status will be made.
Assuming he’s okay the amount of minutes he can play with is the question. You are aware of my opinion already if he is well. He’ll play if he’s feeling well. Nothing else needs to be said.
What was Messi’s performance like in his last two games?
Lionel Messi’s recovery from his layoff with Inter Miami last month has taken some time.
Lionel Messi’s lack of experience was evident when he struck the crossbar twice during Argentina’s Oct. 12 match against Paraguay. One of those occasions involved Messi’s usual free kick on goal since joining Inter Miami this summer.
Even so, it was a better performance than his Inter Miami comeback on October 7 against FC Cincinnati, in which he failed to register a chance on goal. The 1-0 defeat marked Inter Miami’s first loss with Lionel Messi starting and put an end to their hopes of making the MLS playoffs.
Lionel Messi sustained an injury during Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador on September 7, which caused him to miss six Inter Miami games in September.
How far along is Argentina in the World Cup qualifying process?
With nine points, Argentina, the victor of the 2022 World Cup, leads CONMEBOL qualifying. Brazil is next with seven, Colombia with five, Uruguay, Chile, and Venezuela with four, Ecuador with three, Paraguay and Peru with one, and Bolivia with zero.
The 48-team format of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada will allow the top six South American nations to enter directly. A playoff match will be played between the seventh-place team and the tournament berth.
What does Lionel Messi do next?
Lionel Messi is not expected to play in Inter Miami’s final two regular-season games, which are scheduled for Wednesday and Saturday and both against Charlotte FC, now that Inter Miami CF is eliminated from the MLS postseason picture.
Lionel Messi’s itinerary will thereafter be dominated by Inter Miami’s two friendly in China on November 5 and 8. Nov. 5 at the Qingdao Youth Football Stadium will see Inter Miami play Qingdao Hainiu F.C., and Nov. 8 at Phoenix Hill Sports Park will see Inter Miami play Chengdu Rongcheng.
Messi is probably going to be back with the Argentina team for their matches against Brazil on November 21 and Uruguay on November 16.