Lionel Messi returns to action with the Argentine national team Thursday night for a 2026 World Cup qualifying match on the road against Paraguay.

Argentina and Brazil faced tough nights in World Cup qualifiers, with Argentina losing 2-1 to Paraguay and Brazil drawing 1-1 with Venezuela. Messi and Vinicius Júnior had challenging performances, affecting their teams' standings.

Argentina are back in action on Thursday with a trip to Asuncion to face a tough Paraguay test with a FIFA 2026 World Cup berth on the line. Lionel Scaloni's men can book their return as defending champions with a win barely two years on from their success in Qatar.

Lionel Messi will hope to put Inter Miami's surprising elimination from the MLS Cup playoffs behind him in what will be his final two games of the calendar year. Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina's previous game vs.

Watch Paraguay vs. Argentina on Fanatiz. Paraguay enters this match riding a wave of momentum, having taken eight points from its last four qualifiers to sit in the sixth and fina

Argentina hope to reestablish a commanding lead in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings as the Albiceleste take on Paraguay to begin the November international break.