Lionel Messi was absent from Argentina’s lineup Saturday night, but the sold-out Hard Rock Stadium was filled with fans donning his No. 10 jersey. They witnessed the Albiceleste secure a 2-0 victory over Peru, clinching the top spot in Copa America Group A. Both goals came from Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez, who has now scored four goals in three games. With Argentina already assured a quarterfinal spot, coaches made nine changes to the starting lineup, allowing Messi to rest his upper right thigh injury in hopes of being ready for the knockout rounds starting Thursday in Houston.
Messi cheered from the bench, drawing roars from the 64,972-strong crowd each time he appeared on the stadium screens. He jumped to celebrate Martinez’s goals, showing a good mood as Argentina dominated the match from start to finish. Despite a goalless first half, the reigning Copa America and World Cup champions outclassed Peru with their pace and passing, holding 74 percent of possession and registering six shots on goal compared to Peru’s one. Argentina, along with Group A runner-up Canada, advanced to the knockout rounds. They will face the second-place team from Group B, where Venezuela leads with six points, followed by Ecuador and Mexico with three points each.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni missed the match due to a one-game suspension for delaying his team’s second-half starts in previous games against Canada and Chile. Assistant coach Walter Samuel stepped in, expressing satisfaction with the result and the opportunity to see new players in action. “Our players remained patient and secured the goals in the second half. We have confidence in all 26 players, and winning this game was very pleasing,” Samuel said. Regarding Messi’s condition, Samuel stated that they would assess his status daily, noting that there was still time for him to recuperate before the quarterfinals. “Leo seemed better and was in the locker room with us, but it’s too soon to predict his availability for the next game,” he added.
Defender German Pezzella was hopeful about Messi’s return. “Hopefully, he can reach 100 percent quickly,” Pezzella said. “He’s in good spirits, which gives us confidence he’ll join us for the next game.” Angel Di Maria, set to retire from international play after this Copa America, wore the captain’s armband in Messi’s absence. He shared a special moment before the game, walking out hand in hand with his daughter Mia and standing together for the national anthem.
“Unfortunately, I only wear the armband when something is wrong with Leo, but it was a special night,” Di Maria said. “Every time I’ve worn it, we’ve won, which makes me happy. With my retirement nearing, sharing this with my family, especially my daughter, was very nice.” Di Maria noted the team’s warm reception in South Florida and other U.S. cities, emphasizing the importance of giving fans a memorable experience. “We always feel like the home team. The stadiums are packed, and we want to make our fans happy. We know tickets are expensive, and it’s not easy to travel, so we want to give them something to cheer about.”
Argentina’s lineup against Peru featured only two starters from the previous game: goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and defender Nicolas Tagliafico. The revised Starting XI included Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Gonzalo Montiel, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Lautaro Martinez, Alejandro Garnacho, and Di Maria. “Our team’s consistency since the World Cup is crucial, and the younger players showed they could step up,” Di Maria said. “This is important for the coach to know that everyone is ready to play.”
Peru’s lineup included Pedro Gallese, Carlos Zambrano, Alexander Callens, Oliver Sonne, Aldo Corzo, Bryan Reyna, Sergio Pena, Wilder Cartagena, Marcos Lopez, Edison Flores, and Paolo Guerrero. Ando Polo was set to start but was replaced by Sonne due to discomfort during warmups. The game was tied 0-0 at halftime, with Argentina dominating possession and having three shots on goal. Peru’s goalkeeper Gallese, who plays for MLS club Orlando City, made three significant saves in the first half.
Argentina seized control after intermission, with Martinez scoring two minutes into the second half and again in the closing minutes. He converted a through ball from Di Maria and later scored with a chip shot. Martinez has now scored in all three Copa America games, contributing to Argentina’s victories over Canada and Chile.
Reflecting on the tournament, Martinez expressed gratitude after recovering from an ankle injury during the Qatar World Cup. “I enjoyed the World Cup, but my ankle injury was tough. Now, I can celebrate with my family because I worked hard to get here,” he said. Argentina aims for its third major title after winning the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup. With the loss, Peru was eliminated from the tournament. Peru coach Jorge Fossati acknowledged Argentina’s quality and physical advantage, stating, “Our performance was the weakest of the three games due to the opponent’s quality and our physical exhaustion from the game against Canada.”
Argentina now prepares for the quarterfinals, hoping to continue their strong performance with a refreshed lineup and a potentially returning Messi.
