Lautaro Martinez has equalled Diego Maradona’s record in the all-time Argentina scoring charts following a 1-0 victory against Peru in World Cup qualifying action in Buenos Aires.
At the 55-minute mark, Martinez, 27, delivered a powerful left-footed volley, capitalising on a precise cross from Lionel Messi. This goal marked his 32nd for the national team in his 70th appearance.
The captain of Inter Milan currently shares the fifth position with Argentine icon Maradona, yet he trails significantly behind the leading scorer, Messi, who boasts an impressive tally of 112 goals.
Gabriel Batistuta, Sergio Aguero, and Hernan Crespo rounded out the top five.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, at 37 years old, has reached a significant milestone by tying with former United States forward Landon Donovan for the most international assists, now standing at 58.
Lionel Scaloni’s team dominated the match for significant stretches but failed to capitalise on their advantage. Julian Alvarez struck the post, while Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister missed a header, sending it wide of the target.
With this victory, Argentina has established a five-point lead at the South American World Cup qualifying standings summit, with six matches left to play.
In a disappointing display, Brazil faced criticism from their supporters following a 1-1 draw against Uruguay in Salvador.
Federico Valverde, the Real Madrid midfielder, gave Uruguay the lead shortly after the break, but Brazil’s Gerson equalised just six minutes later, marking his first goal on the international stage.
The recent draw has positioned five-time World Cup champions Brazil in fifth place on the standings, as the top six teams will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Enner Valencia, the former West Ham and Everton forward, delivered a stunning solo goal that clinched a 1-0 victory for Ecuador against Colombia. This result propelled Ecuador to surpass its rivals and get third place in goal difference.
In a competitive match, Newcastle United forward Miguel Almiron contributed to Paraguay’s performance, scoring in a 2-2 draw against Bolivia, which keeps the team in sixth place.
Bolivia currently occupies the seventh position, qualifying them for a play-off, holding a one-point lead over Venezuela, who suffered a 4-2 defeat against Chile.
