There’s only one way to put this: Lionel Messi is back.
Messi scored two goals and played all 93 minutes to spark Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Peru in their 2026 World Cup qualifying match at Estadio Nacional de Lima in Lima, Peru on Tuesday night.
Messi appeared sharp and back in shape, playing from start to finish and scoring for the first time since a right leg injury with Argentina on Sept. 7 hampered him for much of the last six weeks with MLS side Inter Miami.
Messi was so aggressive and nimble at one point, he made a Peruvian defender fall down twice while dribbling back and forth on the goal line before crossing midfield. He picked his spots wisely on his two goals scored in the first half, trailing his teammates on both plays before striking with open shots toward the net.
“The most important thing is that Messi is healthy. He manages the minutes alone,” Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni said after the match, which helped Argentina stay atop the CONMEBOL Standings with 12 points.
Messi trailed down the middle of the box, and was delivered a pass on a golden platter from Nicolás González for his first goal. His left boot connected to top right corner of the net in the 32nd minute, and he leaped over a fallen Peruvian defender to begin celebrating with his teammates.
Ten minutes later, Messi had a brace as Enzo Fernández’s pass found him in position for left boot into the lower, left corner of the net in the 42nd minute.
When the second half began, Messi remained aggressive seeking a hat trick. But at least three opportunities, including a free kick in the 88th minute, did not produce the same highlight results for the 2022 World Cup champion and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“We have great players and a very marked style of play, which we like. We want to continue down this path,” Messi said of the Argentine national team after the win.
“After winning the World Cup, we are confident, very loose, more united and firm. Hopefully we can continue growing,” Messi added.
Lionel Messi highlights vs. Peru
Messi’s return comes late for MLS fans in the U.S.
Messi’s resurgence might be disappointing to fans who missed him in action during the last month in cities like Atlanta, Orlando, Chicago and his home pitch in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He missed six Inter Miami matches, including the club’s loss in the U.S. Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo.
Messi won’t play in either match of Inter Miami’s two remaining matches Wednesday at home and on the road Saturday against Charlotte FC, effectively ending his first MLS season.
Messi made his Inter Miami return in the second half against FC Cincinnati on Oct. 7, the 1-0 loss ended the club’s postseason hopes and felt like more of a tune-up before he rejoined Argentina for this two-match stint.
Messi came off the bench for Argentina’s 1-0 win over Paraguay last Thursday, but showed some rust by hitting the goal post twice in the second half.
But Messi didn’t appear rusty at all on Tuesday night.
Messi looked like he has returned to form. Just like he did when he first joined Inter Miami and led the club to its thrilling run in the Leagues Cup tournament in late July and August and their first championship.
What’s next for Leo Messi?
Some rest, and a lot of travel.
Inter Miami announced two international friendlies in China that will dominate Messi’s schedule at the beginning of November.
Inter Miami will play Qingdao Hainiu F.C. in Qingdao, China on Nov. 5 at the Qingdao Youth Football Stadium and Chengdu Rongcheng in Chengdu, China on Nov. 8 at the Phoenix Hill Sports Park.
Messi will likely return to the Argentine team for matches against Uruguay on Nov. 16 and Brazil on Nov. 21.
Messi miss, foul in 67’: Argentina 2, Peru 0
Leo Messi’s aggression has not slowed in this second half. He wants a hat trick. But his third goal hasn’t come just yet.
Messi was in the goal box when his shot in the 67th minute was stopped by the goalie. Messi tried to make a play on the ball while laying on the pitch, and picked up a foul.
One minute later, Messi had another shot but missed.
Messi nearly has a hat trick: Argentina 2, Peru 0
Leo Messi raised his hands in the air, and began celebrating with a hug among teammates.
Messi was standing by the net when a Peruvian player deflected a kick in the goal area right to him. Messi kicked it into the net in the 57th minute.
But after VAR review, Argentina was found to be offsides.
Messi was denied his third goal of the match and a potential hat trick.
Messi scores second goal in 42′: Argentina 2, Peru 0
Welcome back, Leo Messi.
Messi scored his second goal in the 42nd minute to give Argentina a 2-0 lead on Peru in the first half.
Messi trailed the play just like he did his first goal, 10 minutes earlier. And Messi’s left boot did the rest.
Messi took Julián Álvarez’s pass and kicked it into the back of the net.
Messi has a brace in his first start since Sept. 7.
Messi scores goal in 32’: Argentina 1, Peru 0
Messi trailed down the middle of the box, and was delivered a pass on a golden platter.
And Messi did what he does best.
Messi’s left boot connected and the ball hit the top right corner of the net in the 32nd minute to give Argentina a 1-0 lead on Peru.
Messi even leaped over a Peruvian defender after his kick as he began celebrating his goal with his Argentine teammates.
It’s Messi’s first goal since helping Argentina beat Ecuador 1-0 on Sept. 7, the game he was initially injured causing his setback for most of the last six weeks.
Messi misses free kick in 11’: Argentina 0, Peru 0
Messi, playing aggressive in the opening minutes, had a free kick opportunity in the 11th minute.
Messi was tripped by Peru’s Nilson Loyola just outside the right side of the box in the ninth minute to set up the shot.
But Messi’s kick was high and caught by the Peruvian goalie Pedro Gallese in the middle of the net.
Messi already with two kicks toward the net in his first start in more than a month.
Messi misses in 3’: Argentina 0, Peru 0
Messi didn’t waste much time getting his first shot off on goal.
Messi’s left kick just past the 3-minute mark skated just outside the right goal post.
Messi in Argentina’s starting lineup
Here’s the starting lineup for Argentina:
What did Argentina’s coach say about Messi?
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had an encouraging update about Messi’s health on Monday.
“Messi is fine, he has been training. We will make the decision (Tuesday),” he told reporters.
And how much will Messi play against Peru? It will be decided after Messi and Scaloni convene about his playing status.
“It is to speak with him and to ask him how he is. If he is well… It’s a question of minutes, of how much he can play. If he is well, you already know what I think. If he is well, he will play. There is nothing more to say.”
How did Messi fare in his last two appearances?
Messi has needed time to shake off the rust following his layoff with Inter Miami last month.
Messi’s rust showed as he hit the crossbar twice in Argentina’s match against Paraguay on Oct. 12. One of those instances included a free kick on goal, which Messi has routinely made since joining Inter Miami this summer.
Still, it was a better outing than his Inter Miami return against FC Cincinnati on Oct. 7, when he didn’t have a shot on goal. Inter Miami lost 1-0, the club’s first loss with Messi in the lineup and one that ended their MLS postseason hopes.
Messi missed six Inter Miami matches in September after he was injured in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Ecuador on Sept. 7.
Where does Argentina stand in World Cup qualifying?
The 2022 World Cup winner, Argentina leads CONMEBOL qualifying with 9 points, followed by Brazil (7), Colombia (5), Uruguay, Chile and Venezuela (4), Ecuador (3), Paraguay and Peru (1), and Bolivia (0).
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada is expanding to a 48-team format, meaning direct entry will be granted to the top six teams in South America. The seventh-place team will compete in a playoff for a berth into the tournament.
What’s next for Messi?
With Inter Miami CF out of the MLS playoff picture, Messi is unlikely to play in Inter Miami’s last two games of the regular season: Wednesday and Saturday, both against Charlotte FC.
Then, Inter Miami’s two friendlies in China will dominate Messi’s schedule on Nov. 5 and 8. Inter Miami will play Qingdao Hainiu F.C. in Qingdao, China, on Nov. 5 at the Qingdao Youth Football Stadium and Chengdu Rongcheng in Chengdu, China, on Nov. 8 at the Phoenix Hill Sports Park.
Messi will likely return to the Argentine team for matches against Uruguay on Nov. 16 and Brazil on Nov. 21.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Argentina vs. Peru World Cup qualifier: Lionel Messi goals, highlights
