Before playing against Peru, Messi's pending debt with Argentina is surprising

The Peruvian National Team will play this Tuesday for the fourth date of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, a very tough match against Lionel Messi's Argentina, who has been able to shine much less against the Bicolor than against other adversaries on the continent. The world champion captain will be in Lima, although it is not yet known if he will play as a starter or start from the substitute bench. However, it is clear that his presence will be the great attraction of the match at the National Stadium.

In total, he played 8 games against the Peruvian National Team, which is also the one he faced the least in Conmebol. They never lost: they tied 3 times and won 5. There were 7 qualifying duels: 3 in Lima (two 1-1 draws, in 2008 and 2012, and the last 2-0 win in 2020) and 4 in Buenos Aires (2 wins). -0 in 2005, 2-1 in 2009 and 1-0 in 2021 and 0-0 in the Bombonera in 2017).

The Argentine number 10 scored 8 goals against Bolivia, 7 against Ecuador, 6 against Uruguay, 5 against Brazil, 5 against Paraguay, 5 against Chile, 5 against Venezuela and 3 against Colombia. Messi and Argentina come to the duel against Peru as champions of the world, of America and leaders of the Qualifiers. Perhaps, it is the confrontation with the greatest differences in the previous one, since Ricardo Gareca's team has just added one point in three games and with doubts in its performance.

The outstanding debt that Messi has against Peru in the South American qualifiers

Peru has the virtue of being the South American rival against whom the Rosario star scored the fewest goals. According to ESPN, he was only one and more than 16 years ago, in the quarterfinals of the 2007 Copa América. That day in Venezuela, the Albiceleste won 4-0 with a goal from the young man from Barcelona at that time. In the Qualifiers he never scored against him. The historic Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese was only able to score this year with the Inter Miami shirt, since he never scored against him with that of his team.