Fernando Romero Nuñez The Argentina men’s national football team wrapped up 2024 in style, beating Perú 1-0 at home in a game that could’ve ended with a larger score. An inspired Lionel Messi continued to defy the passing of time, giving fans at La Bombonera a classic performance and providing the assist for striker Lautaro Martínez’s goal.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni had challenged his players in the press conference ahead of the game after a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Paraguay last Thursday.
“Perú needs the points and will play hard. We have to play a serious match,” he said on Monday.
The Argentine players undoubtedly heard his message, as the team came out swinging for the fences. Playing in a new design shirt, commemorating the Albiceleste’s 50-year link with Adidas, Scaloni’s team took control of the ball very quickly. It brought the game to the Peruvians, with Messi slipping precise in-behind passes and dribbling past defenders.
The biggest chance of the first half came in the 21st minute. Martínez allowed striker Julián Álvarez an open chance, with the former River Plate forward’s shot hitting the post. Just two minutes later, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister sneaked into the box for a clear header from an Álvarez cross that almost caught Peru’s goalkeeper Pedro Gallese off guard.
Despite having a plethora of chances, Argentina went into half time with the game still goalless.
Albiceleste fans didn’t have to wait much longer. In the 55th minute, Messi received the ball from Álvarez, dribbled past two defenders and put a cross for a Martínez acrobatic scissor kick with his left foot.
Argentina remained in command of the game, with plenty more chances coming its way as Perú fell into damage-control, but was unable to extend its lead and the game ended 1-0.
“The balance sheet for 2024 is very positive,” Argentina assistant coach and former international Walter Samuel said after the game. He took the place of Scaloni in the press conference as the Albiceleste boss was said to be feeling under the weather.
“When we lose a game we feel the pain, but that’s a good thing because it keeps us alert. The bar is high and we have to live with it. The players are still hungry.”
Striker Lautaro Martínez also expressed his satisfaction. “I’m happy because my whole family was here, and I wanted to show them my best,” he said. “This year has been incredibly good, and luckily we were able to wrap it with a win.”
Martínez won Serie A with Inter Milan as the leading goalscorer in 2024, a feat he repeated in the 2024 Copa América win with Argentina. With his goal on Tuesday, he tied Diego Maradona as the fifth top goal scorer with the national team, with 32.
With this result, the Albiceleste widened its lead in South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, running away with 25 points while second-placed Uruguay tied with Brazil to claim 20.
Its next game is scheduled for March 20, 2025, when it visits Uruguay before hosting Brazil five days later, part of the first Qualifiers double header of the year.