Lionel Messi was at his sublime best again as his second-half goal gave Argentina a 1-0 home win over Ecuador on Thursday to get their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign off the mark.
World Cup winners Argentina were dominant in possession but frustrated in attack as they struggled to make the breakthrough.
Captain Messi, however, continued the excellent form than has seen him dominate at Inter Miami as he scored from a free kick after 77 minutes.
A trademark, curling free-kick from Messi sealed the result.
Messi has yet to confirm whether he will continue with his national side all the way to 2026, but he showed how important he still is for his national team.
"Ecuador showed they have very good players, that they are physically strong and that they are clear about what they do," Messi said after the match.
"We know that in every game we have to give one hundred percent to pull it off. But we showed that this group will not relax beyond what they achieved, which is something historic and extraordinary," he added.
"We have to be aware that we enjoyed everything a lot, but what we did is over. We have to look ahead.
"Everyone always wants to beat Argentina and even more so now that we are the world champions. We can't relax, we have to improve on what we've been doing."
Messi's goal also tied him with Luis Suarez of Uruguay as the all-time top scorer in the South American qualifying competition with 29.
"It's a pleasure for me that we are both there," said Messi, who has now scored 104 international goals. "Given what the qualifiers mean for us in South American football, it's a very nice thing for both of us."
Argentina will next play at Bolivia on Tuesday.
In other qualifiers, Paraguay drew 0-0 with Peru while Colombia claimed a 1-0 home win over Venezuela.
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Lionel Messi holds up the trophy after Argentina defeated France on penalties in the World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, on Sunday, December 18, 2022. AP -
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after beating France. AP -
France's Kylian Mbappe walks past the trophy at the end of the match. AP -
Argentina's Lionel Messi holds up the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament. AP -
Argentina celebrate victory at Lusail Stadium. Getty -
Lionel Messi of Argentina kisses the trophy after beating France 4-2 on penalties. EPA -
Argentina celebrate victory. AP -
Argentina captain Lionel Messi celebrates with World Cup trophy. PA -
Kylian Mbappe of France with his Golden Boot award for finishing as the tournament's top scorer. EPA -
Argentina players celebrate after winning the World Cup final penalty shoot-out against France. Getty -
Argentina players celebrate victory. Getty -
Argentina's Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi celebrate after winning the World Cup. Reuters -
Argentina's Leandro Paredes celebrates scoring the winning penalty against France. Getty -
Argentina's Leandro Paredes celebrates scoring during the penalty shoot-out against France. Reuters -
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saves from Kingsley Coman of France in the penalty shoot-out. Getty -
Lionel Messi scores for Argentina in the penalty shoot-out. Getty -
Emiliano Martinez of Argentina celebrates after saving Kingsley Coman's penalty. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe completes his hat-trick from the spot to make it 3-3. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his, and France's, third goal. Getty -
Lionel Messi scores Argentina's third goal. Getty -
Lionel Messi celebrates scoring Argentina's third goal. Getty -
Lionel Messi scores Argentina's third goal. Reuters -
Lionel Messi celebrates scoring Argentina's third goal. PA -
Argentina's Lionel Messi goes for a high challenge on Eduardo Camavinga of France. Getty -
Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after scoring Argentina's third. AFP -
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is beaten by the penalty of France's Kylian Mbappe. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring France's second goal. PA -
Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi fouls Randal Kolo Muani of France giving away a penalty. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe volleys home France's second goal. Getty -
Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria skips past the challenge of France's Antoine Griezmann. PA -
Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the first France goal. Getty -
Kylian Mbappe scores France's first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters -
Angel Di Maria celebrates scoring Argentina's second goal. Reuters -
Argentina's Lionel Messi sends France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris the wrong way from the spot. Getty -
France's Kylian Mbappe with Lionel Messi of Argentina. Getty -
Angel Di Maria scores for Argentina in the first-half. Getty -
France's Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Adrien Rabiot after Argentina made it 2-0. PA -
Argentina's Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring with France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris on his knees. Reuters -
Argentina's Nicolas Tagliafico and Randal Kolo Muani fight for the ball. AP -
Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring for Argentina. Getty -
Lionel Messi is mobbed by Argentina teammates after scoring. Getty -
France's Jules Kounde heads the ball. AP -
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring for Argentina. Getty -
Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria earns a penalty after going down under the challenge of France's Ousmane Dembele. Getty -
France's Olivier Giroud shakes hands with manager Didier Deschamps after being substituted in the first half. PA -
Lionel Messi scores from the spot for Argentina. PA -
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a first-half penalty for Argentina. Getty -
France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saves from Argentina's Julian Alvarez. AP -
France manager Didier Deschamps, left, with his Argentina counterpart Lionel Scaloni before the game. AP -
Argentina players before the match. AP -
France players before the match. Getty
