WATCH: Lionel Messi scores match winning free kick for Argentina against Ecuador in World Cup 2026 qualifiers

Lionel Messi once again delivered for Argentina when his side needed him. He scored a 78th-minute free-kick goal against Ecuador in a 2026 World Cup qualifying fixture at the Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires. The Argentina forward equaled the record of Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez’s most number of goals in South America’s World Cup qualifiers.

He and Suarez are now tied with 29 goals each under their belt. It was Messi’s 176th appearance for the Argentina national team, and he continued to do what he has done over the years. Despite moving on from European football in favour of his Major League Soccer (MLS) adventure, his quality has not degraded.

Here’s the video:

This Angle of Lionel Messi's Freekick Goal 🥶pic.twitter.com/50giYnCVwF

— 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚗 (@harrisonfcb4) September 8, 2023

Messi the saviour for Argentina

The 36-year-old set the ball, and kicked it over the wall and into the top-left corner of the net in the 78th minute, catching Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez standing still helplessly watching the ball going into the goal. Messi has been in unreal form since arriving in MLS with Inter Miami. The Argentine won the Golden Boot award in the inaugural Leagues Cup with 10 goals in just 7 games for the Herons and has since scored 12 goals in all competitions for both club and country since his arrival. He now has 104 international goals to his name.

He stated after the match, “It’s a pleasure for me that we are both there. Given what the qualifiers mean for us in South American football, it’s a very nice thing for both of us. We played against a great team, with good players and physically strong. Everyone always wants to beat Argentina and even more so now that we are the world champions. We can’t relax, we have to improve on what we’ve been doing. The objective is to qualify for the World Cup again. We really enjoyed what we did but we have to look ahead.”

The current World Cup winners will next play on Tuesday, September 12 when La Albiceleste takes on Bolivia in another World Cup qualifier.