Once again, and now as a World Cup champion, Lionel Messi came to Argentina's rescue when the team most needed him. The 36-year-old captain scored from a free kick in the 78th minute to give Argentina a 1-0 win against Ecuador in the first round of South American World Cup qualifying on Thursday. It was Messi's 104th goal in 176 international appearances, including his 29th in World Cup qualifying.
Lionel Messi and his Argentina lineup will be back on World Cup duty this week, when their bid to defend the title starts in South American qualifying. Argentina will face Moisés Caicedo’s Ecuador on Thursday at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium in its first official match since winning the World cup in December. The last time a World Cup winner played in South American qualifying was in 2003, when Brazil had to secure its spot in a tournament with 32 teams.
When Brighton signed an Ecuadorian midfielder from Independiente del Valle for just £4.5 million ($5.7 million), unsurprisingly there was little fanfare surrounding the transfer.
Moises Caicedo has made a huge impact since breaking into the Brighton team at the start of April, and is showing why Manchester United perhaps should have done more to sign him in January 2021