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Tim Vickery, South America correspondent
Hernán Galíndez, Ecuador‘s goalkeeper, was born within the Argentine metropolis of Rosario in 1987 and likes to inform the story of the primary objective he ever conceded in youth soccer after he switched from being a striker. It was scored by a neighborhood up to date of his by the title of Lionel Messi.
Messi could have helped himself to the primary objective previous Galindez, however the 36-year-old now has the final — an beautiful 77th-minute free kick which gave Argentina a 1-0 win at residence to Ecuador within the first spherical of 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
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Up till that time, Galindez and Ecuador may really feel joyful about their night’s work. Galindez had simply dived left to dam a Messi shot, the product of a sometimes elusive dribble after an change with Rodrigo De Paul. In any other case, although, the goalkeeper had been seldom troubled as Ecuador caught to their gameplan on a chilly evening in Buenos Aires.
Ecuador coach Felix Sanchez arrange his workforce with a again three and packed the midfield. In opposition to bodily imposing opponents it was onerous for Argentina to work their method by way of and, with tempo and expertise on the break, Ecuador would offer occasional reminders that that they had an attacking risk of their very own.
There have been occasions when Argentina made the ball fizz and De Paul loved the area he discovered with Ecuador pre-occupied by Messi. An excellent four-man transfer introduced recollections of the profitable 2022 World Cup marketing campaign when Alexis Mac Allister pulled the ball again for Messi to shoot simply vast from the sting of the world. De Paul then crossed for Lautaro Martínez to stretch out a boot and switch the ball onto the far publish.
Martinez had been surprisingly most well-liked to Julian Avarez up entrance, presumably to do battle with the Ecuador’s tall centre-backs. And with the intention of stretching out the pitch, Nico Gonzalez began on the left wing forward of Ángel Di María. However onerous as they tried, Argentina couldn’t power their method by way of.
Defender Cristian Romero got here up from the again to make an auxiliary striker, reaching the fitting byline and pulling a ball throughout for Nico Tagliafico’s shot to clip the bar on its method over. It is a sign of the perils of overcommitting gamers ahead that Romero’s subsequent important motion was inside his personal penalty space, as he was compelled to make a saving deal with when Enner Valencia was bearing down on objective.
Di Maria got here on, Alvarez was launched, however ultimately it was all about Messi. An attacking melee — wherein Romero was as soon as extra concerned — introduced a free kick on the sting of the world. Messi dinked it over the wall as simply as if he had picked the ball up together with his arms and positioned it within the far nook. Galindez had no probability.
So the story goes on, which results in the query: how lengthy can Messi go on? How lengthy does he wish to go on? The No. 10 had appeared to dismiss speak of nonetheless being round for the 2026 World Cup, when he will likely be approaching 40, however the nearer the competitors comes the better the strain to offer it a attempt.
The Argentina workforce constructed by Lionel Scaloni in these extraordinary 5 years has very a lot been Messi surrounded by his fan membership. If 2026 actually is a bridge too far for Argentina’s captain, then Scaloni could have gotten himself ready the place his aspect can now not play with Messi however can’t play with out him both.