Argentina close on World Cup as Messi helps Martinez level up with Maradona

Holders Argentina adjacent connected World Cup spot arsenic Lautaro Martinez joins Diego Maradona arsenic country’s 5th starring scorer.

A second-half onslaught from Lautaro Martinez gave Argentina a 1-0 location triumph complete Peru successful South American qualifiers for nan 2026 World Cup connected Tuesday night, pinch nan striker’s extremity moving him level pinch Diego Maradona arsenic nan country’s 5th all-time scorer.

The 27-year-old Inter Milan guardant notched his 32nd world extremity 10 minutes aft nan break, capitalising connected a good transverse from Lionel Messi to occurrence location a half-volley into nan top-right corner.

“I’m happy because my full family came and I ever want to springiness my best. This twelvemonth was very affirmative and luckily we closed it pinch a victory,” Martinez told section TV.

“It was a spectacular twelvemonth successful position of performance, goals, games played. We person to support playing and improving time by day. Everyone wants to hit us. Argentina’s nationalist squad are ever nan main characters. There are things to amended but we person to proceed connected this path.”

Until Martínez scored, Argentina’s champion chance was successful nan 21st minute, erstwhile striker Julian Alvarez deed nan Peruvian goalkeeper’s correct post. Messi erstwhile again had a humble performance, arsenic he did successful his team’s 2-1 conclusion successful Paraguay on Thursday.

The World Cup holders lead nan CONMEBOL standings pinch 25 points, 5 clear of Uruguay. Peru are bottommost of nan 10-team array pinch 7 points aft 12 games. The apical six suffice automatically for nan World Cup successful nan United States, Mexico and Canada.

“We are Copa America champions, we are first successful nan qualifiers. We person to beryllium proud,” Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez added.

Inter Miami forward, Messi, remains nan country’s grounds extremity scorer netting 112 times. Former striker Gabriel Batistuta, who enjoyed a agelong profession pinch Fiorentina successful Italy, is 2nd connected nan database pinch 55 goals.

Brazil’s players were fixed a frosty reception arsenic they near nan section pursuing nan location tie pinch Uruguay [Heuler Andrey/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images]

Argentina’s rivals Brazil look instrumentality backlash arsenic stutter continues

Brazil fans astatine location successful Salvador jeered their squad aft nan last whistle pursuing their 1-1 tie against Uruguay.

In a lucifer pinch fewer opportunities for either side, Uruguay seemed person to winning for astir of nan 2nd half pinch Federico Valverde opening nan scoring successful nan 55th infinitesimal aft Brazilian defenders grounded 3 times to clear nan shot from their punishment area. The Real Madrid midfielder deed nan shot to nan near area to score.

Gerson equalized successful nan 61st infinitesimal successful akin manner astatine nan Arena Fonte Nova.

Brazil, who stay without nan services of their injured guardant Neymar, lag successful 5th position pinch 18 points aft respective uninspiring performances. Striker Raphinha said he understood nan vexation of his team’s fans but disagreed pinch their guidance astatine nan end.

“We played great. We did everything we could to time off present pinch a victory. We must person our heads precocious up, it will beryllium very reliable to hit us,” he said.

Also connected Tuesday, Ecuador won 1-0 astatine Colombia pinch a extremity by Enner Valencia successful nan seventh minute, successful which he dribbled done 3 players earlier scoring. Ecuador mislaid defender Piero Hincapie to a reddish paper successful nan 34th infinitesimal but held connected for nan win.

Bolivia and Paraguay drew 2-2 successful a lucifer betwixt teams that could extremity up fighting for nan seventh position successful nan region’s qualifying. Chile, 1 of nan worst-performing teams successful nan region this year, showed immoderate fighting tone and hit Venezuela 4-2.

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Al Jazeera and news agencies