Lionel Messi’s recent participation in Argentina’s 1-0 win against Paraguay does not guarantee his availability for their upcoming World Cup qualifying match against Peru on Tuesday.
Despite grappling with muscular pains in the lead-up to the game, Messi played most of the second half against Paraguay. However, his involvement in the Peru match remains uncertain, even though he has been training with the squad.
On the other side of South America, Brazil’s Neymar is facing criticism for his lackluster performance in a 1-1 draw with Venezuela, which led to some fans throwing popcorn at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá. Neymar faces a challenging task in proving his form as Brazil takes on Uruguay.
The next World Cup, set to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will feature a 48-team format, with the top six teams from South America earning direct entry. The seventh-place team will engage in an intercontinental playoff for a berth.
Currently, Argentina leads the South American qualifying standings with nine points, followed by Brazil (seven), Colombia (five), Uruguay, Chile, and Venezuela (four), Ecuador (three), Paraguay and Peru (one), and Bolivia (0).
The fourth matchday in South American qualifying also includes Ecuador vs. Colombia, Paraguay vs. Bolivia, and Venezuela vs. Chile.
Peru vs. Argentina
Argentina’s practice session on Sunday didn’t provide a definitive answer regarding Messi’s participation against Peru.
The 36-year-old superstar, who has been dealing with muscular issues in his right leg, trained with the national team but has missed several MLS matches for his club, Inter Miami, due to these concerns. If Messi does play against Peru, Coach Lionel Scaloni might need to make adjustments to the line-up that defeated Paraguay, possibly involving Nico Gonzalez.
Peru, coming off two consecutive losses in South American qualifying, faces a formidable challenge against the reigning World Cup champion. Coach Juan Reynoso acknowledges the difficulties ahead and emphasizes the need for adaptability in the team’s approach.
Uruguay vs. Brazil
Brazil’s fans expressed frustration following their draw against Venezuela, a team that has never qualified for a World Cup. Neymar, in particular, faced criticism for his performance characterized by missed passes and subpar finishes. He was even pelted with popcorn by some fans as he left the pitch.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top goal scorer, is expected to face Uruguay in Montevideo. Brazil’s new coach, Fernando Diniz, is likely to make three changes for the upcoming qualifying round, with Yan Couto, Carlos Augusto, and Gabriel Jesus potentially stepping in.
Uruguay, which hasn’t defeated Brazil in World Cup qualifying since 2001, is optimistic about the match after securing a 2-2 draw against Colombia. Captain Federico Valverde, along with Real Madrid teammates Vinicius Júnior and Rodrygo of Brazil, is eager for the encounter, despite believing they could have achieved a better result in their previous match.
