Holders Argentina edged closer to securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 home victory over Peru in their latest South American qualifier on Tuesday night. Lautaro Martinez’s second-half goal sealed the win for Argentina, marking a historic moment for the striker. His 32nd international goal moved him level with football legend Diego Maradona as the country’s fifth all-time leading scorer.
Martinez, the Inter Milan forward, found the back of the net 10 minutes into the second half, capitalizing on a perfect cross from Lionel Messi. Martinez fired a clinical half-volley into the top-right corner, showcasing his precision and timing. “I’m happy because my whole family came and I always want to give my best,” Martinez said after the match. “This year was very positive, and luckily we closed it with a victory.”
Looking back on the year, Martinez expressed satisfaction with his performances, which included numerous goals and matches played. “It was a spectacular year in terms of performance. We have to keep playing and improving day by day. Everyone wants to beat us. Argentina’s national team are always the main characters. There are things to improve, but we have to continue on this path,” he added.
Before Martinez’s decisive strike, Argentina had their best chance in the 21st minute when Julian Alvarez hit the right post of Peru’s goal. Messi, despite his influential presence, had another quiet outing, reminiscent of his performance in Argentina’s 2-1 loss to Paraguay last Thursday.
With this win, Argentina remains atop the CONMEBOL standings with 25 points, five ahead of Uruguay. Peru, on the other hand, struggles at the bottom of the table with just seven points from 12 games. The top six teams in the standings will automatically qualify for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“We are Copa America champions, we are first in the qualifiers. We have to be proud,” said Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, underscoring the team’s strong form in the qualifiers.
Argentina’s record goal scorer, Lionel Messi, still holds the top spot with 112 goals, while former striker Gabriel Batistuta is second with 55. Martinez’s achievement, however, has placed him in the same echelon as Maradona, a testament to his growing legacy in Argentine football.
Meanwhile, Brazil is struggling in the qualifiers. In their 1-1 draw against Uruguay, fans in Salvador expressed their frustration by jeering the team after the final whistle. Uruguay had taken the lead in the 55th minute, thanks to a strike from Federico Valverde, following a series of defensive errors from Brazil. Gerson equalized for Brazil in the 61st minute, but the draw leaves the team in fifth place with just 18 points.
Brazil has been without Neymar due to injury, and striker Raphinha defended the team’s efforts after the match, despite the disappointing result. “We played great. We did everything we could to leave here with a victory. We must have our heads held high, it will be very tough to beat us,” he said.
Elsewhere in the qualifiers, Ecuador secured a crucial 1-0 win against Colombia, with Enner Valencia scoring in the seventh minute. Ecuador held on despite being reduced to 10 men after Piero Hincapie was sent off in the 34th minute. Bolivia and Paraguay played out a 2-2 draw, while Chile recorded an impressive 4-2 win over Venezuela, showing resilience despite a difficult year in the qualifiers.
As the South American qualifiers continue, Argentina’s push toward the 2026 World Cup looks promising, and Lautaro Martinez’s milestone marks a proud moment in the country’s footballing history.
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