Paraguay's anti-Messi approach pays off with Argentina win

Everyone in the world of football knows by now that it takes something special to stop Lionel Messi. With that lesson very much in mind, Paraguay took the maxim to extremes on Thursday – to spectacular effect.

Prior to their vital World Cup qualifying clash in Asunción the Albirroja announced what was immediately christened the 'Anti-Messi law.' Under the directive, any home fans who made their way to the Defensores del Chaco with shirts emblazoned with the veteran wizard's famous No. 10 would be personas non grata.

“Supporters who wear Argentina, Barcelona or Inter Miami shirts with Messi's name will not be allowed to enter,” Paraguayan Football Association director Fernando Villasboas explained to Radio La Red prior to kick-off. “We want to paint the Defensores del Chaco with the Albirroja colours, so that the players can feel that support from the stands. We are all playing in this game in our own way.”

Coincidentally or otherwise – and, it must be said, there was a fair smattering of Messi shirts on display from Argentina's sizeable visiting support and perhaps even a few valiant locals – the gambit paid off. Paraguay inflicted a rare defeat on Lionel Scaloni's charges, receiving a huge boost to their chances of making the 2026 finals while doing little to knock the Albiceleste off course. It constitutes the second huge scalp in as many months for ex-Boca Juniors boss Gustavo Alfaro, who led Paraguay to a famous win over Brazil in his first game in charge and on Thursday only cemented his reputation as the miracle man of South American football.

To start with it did not appear that a shock was on the cards. In classic Alfaro fashion Paraguay set up shop on the edge of their penalty area and invited Argentina to come at them with everything they had. Even with Messi more muted than usual (smarting over the lack of his shirts? Probably not) the Albiceleste dominated control of the ball and caught a break after just 11 minutes when Lautaro Martínez latched on to Enzo Fernández's perfectly weighted ball over the top and finished past Roberto Fernández. The Inter man was initially ruled offside, but VAR's blue-and-red lines determined he was in fact perfectly in line with his marker and the goal stood.

Generally, that would be the end of the story in an Argentina match. But Tonny Sanabria had other ideas. A former academy student at Barcelona while Messi was ruling the roost in Catalunya, Sanabria struck with a stunning bicycle kick to level the game. And after the break, Paraguay struck again through Antonio Alderete. The centre-back was perhaps a little fortunate to be on the pitch at all after several enthusiastic challenges in the first half, but this time he used his head to steer past Emiliano Martínez and send the home crowd wild. A decent chance blazed over by Rodrigo De Paul was about as close as Argentina came to levelling, but they were ultimately well beaten as the nation fell to its third qualifying defeat in this campaign.

Cue scenes of frenzied celebration in the Defensores del Chaco, as Paraguay not only got one over on their neighbours but also ensured they will occupy a World Cup qualifying spot until next March at the earliest. Argentina, meanwhile, will just be glad it's over after one of the most uncomfortable matches for the world champions in the Scaloni era, where nothing seemed to come off. 

Next up is Peru in the Bombonera, which looks on paper at least to be a soft landing after this tough, unexpected defeat in hostile climes – and if nothing else, the Albiceleste should be seeing far more Messi shirts packing the stands in La Boca.