The Argentina National Team once again demonstrated its ability to shine on the pitch, even without its two star players, Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María. In a crucial match of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, the Albiceleste won with a resounding 3-0 over Chile at the Estadio Monumental.
This match not only reaffirmed the quality of the team, but also showed the depth and talent of its squad. This match was significant for several reasons. Since 2013, the Argentina National Team had not played an official match without Messi or Di María.
The absence of these two players, who have been pillars of the team for more than a decade, posed a considerable challenge. However, the team led by Lionel Scaloni proved that it can adapt and remain competitive without its brightest stars..
From the start of the match, Argentina showed a dominant attitude. With Rodrigo De Paul as the leader in the midfield and Alexis Mac Allister as the brain of the team, the Albiceleste controlled the pace of the game from the first minute.
The constant pressure and rapid offensive transitions put the Chilean defense in a difficult position, which had to resort to its goalkeeper, Gabriel Arias, on several occasions to keep the score at zero.The first goal came at the start of the second half, thanks to a collective play that culminated in a precise shot by Alexis Mac Allister.
This goal was a morale blow for the Chilean team, which was unable to recover. Julián Álvarez increased the lead with a powerful left-footed shot, and Paulo Dybala, who inherited Messi’s number 10 shirt for this match, sealed the victory with a great goal.
The absences
Lionel Messi’s absence was due to injury, while Angel Di Maria, who recently announced his retirement from the national team, was honoured before the match. The absence of these two players created uncertainty about how the team would perform, but the performance of the Albiceleste dispelled any doubt.
One of the highlights of the match was the performance of the young talents. Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez and Paulo Dybala not only scored the goals, but also showed a maturity and understanding of the game that bodes well for the future. Argentine national team.
