Lionel Messi: Argentina Captain Scores Two Brilliant Goals Against Peru, Video

• Lionel Messi returned to the starting 11 for Argentina against Peru
• He scored two brilliant first-half goals to help his country win 2-0
• Argentina maintained their perfect start to the World Cup qualifiers

Lionel Messi, on his return to Argentina's starting 11, made it a difficult night for Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, leaving him with no answer to his two strikes.

Messi was named in the starting 11 for the first time since walking out of the game against Ecuador injured and wasted no time proving why he's the best player in the world.

He helped his country continue their perfect start to the CONMEBOL edition of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with four wins out of four.

The world champions have scored seven goals and have conceded zero. Per Data Invicta, the last time Emi Martinez conceded was in the World Cup final against France and has gone 712 minutes since then.

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Football

Messi's goals against Peru

Lionel Scaloni lined up the team in a 4-3-3, with Messi occupying the left wing but constantly drifting into the midfield and occupying the number 10 role behind the striker.

For both goals, as seen in videos recirculated by MLS on X, he dropped into midfield to start the attacks and finished off the moves with beautiful cutbacks that left Gallese in no man's land.

The first came off a pass from Nico Gonzalez, and he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper from near the penalty spot.

Premier League stars Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez created the second goal. The Chelsea star squared it back while the Manchester City striker dummied it for the captain to finish in trademark fashion into the bottom corner.

Messi compares Argentina to Guardiola's Barcelona

Sports Brief reported on Messi comparing Argentina to Guardiola's Barcelona after yet another impressive performance from the world champions.

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Barca, under Guardiola between 2008 and 2012, is regarded as one of the best teams ever, and the Inter Miami star thinks it's a lot, but his current Argentina side are very close to 'prime' Barcelona.

The 36-year-old won four Ballon d'Or under the Spanish boss and is expected to pick up his third under Scaloni and his record-extending eighth.