Lionel Messi spoke about the World Cup qualifying win and being substituted out.

Messi scored a free kick for Argentina in the 1-0 win vs. Ecuador in the World Cup qualifiers and spoke in an interview after the match. Here is what he had to say:

“We know that these are difficult matches in the qualifiers. Ecuador has very good players, they know what they are doing and they are very good physically.

“It was a very difficult match, very physical. I was a little tired so I was substituted out but I felt good. “Not long ago we were World champions but it seems like a lot has happened. We have to keep going, competing and qualifying for the next World Cup, going game after game.

“It was shown in the friendlies we played and today for the points that the group is not going to relax. Everyone wants to beat Argentina and now that we are champions, even more so.”

The Argentina starting eleven has been confirmed for their 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador on Thursday.

Argentina play their first match in the World Cup qualifiers and it’s a similar eleven to the one which started the World Cup final. Coach Lionel Scaloni has made two changes from that final as Nicolás González starts in place of Ángel Di María and Lautaro Martínez for Julián Álvarez. Here is the starting eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Nicolás González; Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez.

Nicolás González and Lautaro Martínez are both set to start for Argentina.

The South American World Cup qualifiers start on Thursday and champions Argentina play Ecuador in their first match in front of a sold out stadium. And according to Gastón Edul, both Nicolás González and Lautaro Martínez will get the start.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference on Wednesday and stated that he already had his starting players but there were doubts in attack. It was initially between Nicolás González and Ángel Di María but per the report, Nicolás González will get the start.

In attack, it was between the number strikers. Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez who would get the start with Lionel Messi.

Lautaro Martínez was the starting striker for Lionel Scaloni during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and the start of the World Cup but fitness problems with Lautaro had Julián Álvarez starting and scoring goals.

And it’s Lautaro Martínez who is set to get the start along with Gonzalez and Messi in attack. With González and Lautaro starting, this is the expected starting eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Nicolás González; Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez.

Lionel Messi is one goal away from the South American World Cup qualifying record.

Messi needs just one goal to become the all time leading goal scorer in South American World Cup qualifying. Luis Suárez of Uruguay presently has 29 goals with Messi on 28 goals.

The World Cup winner scored his first goal in the South American World Cup qualifiers in 2007 against Venezuela. He scored four goals during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

During the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Messi scored 10 goals while scoring seven goals during the 2018 qualification. During the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Messi scored seven goals.

Argentina play Ecuador on Thursday in their first match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Their second match is against Bolivia on Tuesday.