Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Paraguay
Match Time & Date:
15/11/2024
00:30
Prediction: 0-1
Argentina
Sparkles will be flying when Paraguay and Argentina lock horns at Estadio Defensores del Chaco in the World Cup qualifiers round 11. La Albirroja aim to build on a 2-1 win over Venezuela, but they will have a big fish to fry against Leo Messi and Co. All Miguel Almiron, Julio Enciso, and Antonio Sanabria made the cut. The Torino attacker should be recalled to the starting XI after scoring a brace in the last qualifying match.
La Albiceleste, on the other hand, are still relying on Messi, who is likely to prove a handful for the opposition back-line. Both Nico Gonzalez and German Pezzella miss out with injuries, while Marcos Acuna and Paulo Dybala have been omitted. Lionel Scaloni, though, has a strength in depth and we predict that the South American giants are going to prove their worth on the field. Lautaro Martinez is widely expected to lead the line for the away team as Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez has been struggling to find his best form of late.
Highlighted Player (Lionel Messi):
Lionel Messi is regarded as one of the best players in the history of football. He was born on 24 June, 1987 in Rosario and he began his football career at Newell’s Old Boys. At age 10 he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, but having realized his potential at a young age, Barcelona decided to pay for his treatment.
Messi joined Barca in 2001 and he has been playing for the Camp Nou outfit ever since. The Argentine magician has won eight La Liga trophies with Barca and he helped the Catalan giants lift no less than four Champions League titles (2005/2006, 2008/2009, 2010/2011, 2014/2015).
In the 2011/2012 La Liga campaign Messi scored 50 goals for Barca, while netting 14 goals in the 2011/2012 Champions League campaign. The five-time Golden Ball award winner has established himself as Barcelona’s all-time top scorer, but he has yet to win a trophy with Argentina national team at major tournaments. Leo Messi, though, has won Olympic Gold Medal (2008) and FIFA World Youth Championship (2005), with la Albiceleste.
Highlighted Team (Paraguay):
Los Guaranies are the part of CONMEBOL confederation vying for glory at the international scene since 1919 and their debut loss to Argentina 5-1. Paraguay are regular participants at the Copa America winning the tournament on two occasions thus far, most recently in 1979.
They came close to glory in recent editions of the tournament as they fell short in the final of 2011 to Uruguay, while they finished fourth in 2015. The most successful period of the Paraguay national team came under Argentine coach Gerardo Martino, who took Paraguay to the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup for the first time in history. Following the 2010 success, Paraguay failed to qualify for their fourth successive FIFA World Cup finals as they have also missed out on the third consecutive global championship held inside their own continent.
Toluca FC centre back Paulo da Silva is the most capped player of the Paraguay national team, while former Bayern Munich and Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz is the team’s top scorer with 32 goals to his name.
