Argentina's Lionel Messi has another record within his reach following an inspirational outing against Ecuador in the FIFA World Cup qualifier.
It’s another record within sight for Inter Miami playmaker Lionel Messi as Argentina kicked off their World Cup qualifiers with a win.
Messi has equalled Luis Suarez’s goals in the World Cup qualifiers after he scored the only goal of the game in Argentina’s 1-0 win against a stubborn Ecuador side in Buenos Aires.
![World Cup was RIGGED for Lionel Messi to win — Louis Van Gaal](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/05092023/81d3d10f-d4a2-46cf-9cdf-d98f79fa3395.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
09:54 - 05.09.2023
World Cup was RIGGED for Lionel Messi to win — Louis Van Gaal
Louis van Gaal has claimed that last year's World Cup in Qatar was rigged to help Lionel Messi finally lift the trophy for Argentina.
![eFootball 2024 Trailer revealed as new features confirmed, Messi edition & more](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/07092023/61408531-ddfb-40ec-83e6-4a6d0fb79c29.png?operations=fit(180:))
13:14 - 07.09.2023
GAMING eFootball 2024 Trailer revealed as new features confirmed, Messi edition & more
Here's all you need to know about KONAMI's upcoming eFootball 2024 Update which features a special Leo Messi edition.
![WATCH: Lionel Messi’s personal bodyguard, a former Navy Seal, who follows him everywhere](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/25082023/d4520b7e-c7e4-40a7-8ca3-0eae9e7e50a0.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
13:07 - 25.08.2023
FOOTBALL WATCH: Lionel Messi’s personal bodyguard, a former Navy Seal, who follows him everywhere
Yassine Chueko is the former US soldier personally selected by David Beckham to follow the Argentina star everywhere as his bodyguard at Inter Miami.
Messi's heroics vs Ecuador
It was a match that the home side dominated but found little joy as their visitors remained resolute.
Messi put on a show again as Argentina had 71 per cent of the possession and created the better chances in the game.
![](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/08092023/7ab19f0e-1fab-4ee2-8065-662cdd7261b6.png?operations=fit(480:))
However, the World Champions could not find a way behind Ecuador's defense until late in the second half.
![Messi magic enhances Ballon d'Or shout as Argentina beat Ecuador in World Cup qualifier](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/08092023/c0870e6d-c663-4bc1-a504-ff30670a5949.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
05:51 - 08.09.2023
Messi magic enhances Ballon d'Or shout as Argentina beat Ecuador in World Cup qualifier
Argentina has kicked off its FIFA World Cup title defense with Lionel Messi stealing the show again against Ecuador in the qualifiers.
Argentina was awarded a free kick in a dangerous area 12 minutes from time and Messi made no mistakes with a stunning goal.
The 36-year-old who has been unstoppable for his American club, Inter Miami, continues from where he stopped for club and country.
Apart from scoring the winner, he created two chances, made two key passes, and completed the most dribbles (four) before he was subbed off in the 89th minute.
![Lionel Messi](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/25062023/2fd18597-ed76-4bb8-a02a-b65883bc964d.jpg?operations=fit(480:))
Messi equals Suarez's record
![Lionel Messi: Christian Pulisic begs American celebs to turn up for national team matches too](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/04092023/525e7209-6b42-420c-8c7f-763ddc4ebf93.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
23:59 - 06.09.2023
Lionel Messi: Christian Pulisic begs American celebs to turn up for national team matches too
USMNT captain Christian Pulisics has reacted to celebrities turning up for Inter Miami to watch Lionel Messi.
The strike against Ecuador was Messi’s eighth goal in the last eight matches for his country and sees him equal a record held by his former clubmate, Suarez.
Messi and Suarez are now joint-top scorers of all time in the South American World Cup qualifiers with 29 goals each.
![Luis Suarez](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/14102022/a6a20e29-08f7-437c-8048-14349082278f.jpeg?operations=fit(480:))
At least 83, 000 fans were at the Monumental Stadium in the Argentina capital to watch their 2022 World Cup hero take another step to breaking another scoring record.
![Ronaldo's pal Evra defends Messi after Van Gaal's rigged World Cup statement](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/05092023/cbb33c95-7114-42b4-9690-e4c45d89cb53.png?operations=fit(180:))
21:12 - 05.09.2023
Ronaldo's pal Evra defends Messi after Van Gaal's rigged World Cup statement
Manchester United legend Patrice Evra defends Messi's World Cup performance amid criticism.
That goal also takes Messi’s tally for Argentina to 104 goals and he had some nice words for his former clubmate, Suarez.
"It's a pleasure for me that we are both there," said Messi, as per ABC. "Given what the qualifiers mean for us in South American football, it's a very nice thing for both of us."
Related content
![Messi magic enhances Ballon d'Or shout as Argentina beat Ecuador in World Cup qualifier](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/08092023/c0870e6d-c663-4bc1-a504-ff30670a5949.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
05:51 - 08.09.2023
Messi magic enhances Ballon d'Or shout as Argentina beat Ecuador in World Cup qualifier
Argentina has kicked off its FIFA World Cup title defense with Lionel Messi stealing the show again against Ecuador in the qualifiers.
![Lionel Messi set to miss Inter Miami's next match](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/07092023/e5305c36-f403-4086-a06e-4c87d755db26.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
12:51 - 07.09.2023
Lionel Messi set to miss Inter Miami's next match
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi is set to be unavailable for the club's next game.
![Ronaldo's pal Evra defends Messi after Van Gaal's rigged World Cup statement](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/05092023/cbb33c95-7114-42b4-9690-e4c45d89cb53.png?operations=fit(180:))
21:12 - 05.09.2023
Ronaldo's pal Evra defends Messi after Van Gaal's rigged World Cup statement
Manchester United legend Patrice Evra defends Messi's World Cup performance amid criticism.
![Lionel Messi: Liverpool's Van Dijk reacts to Van Gaal's rigged World Cup claim](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/05092023/e7a54838-de97-4713-b435-1843eb9da712.png?operations=fit(180:))
18:25 - 05.09.2023
Lionel Messi: Liverpool's Van Dijk reacts to Van Gaal's rigged World Cup claim
Dutch national team captain Virgil Van Dijk comments on Louis Van Gaal claim that the World Cup was rigged for Messi.
![Louis Van Gaal claims 2022 World Cup was ‘rigged’ to favor Messi’s Argentina](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/05092023/061649e0-5b23-444e-8528-55043794b2c1.png?operations=fit(180:))
18:00 - 05.09.2023
FOOTBALL: Louis Van Gaal claims 2022 World Cup was ‘rigged’ to favor Messi’s Argentina
The former Man United coach believes that the tournament was rigged so that Messi could finally win the trophy that had always eluded him.
![World Cup was RIGGED for Lionel Messi to win — Louis Van Gaal](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/05092023/81d3d10f-d4a2-46cf-9cdf-d98f79fa3395.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
09:54 - 05.09.2023
World Cup was RIGGED for Lionel Messi to win — Louis Van Gaal
Louis van Gaal has claimed that last year's World Cup in Qatar was rigged to help Lionel Messi finally lift the trophy for Argentina.
![Super Falcons: 5 times Nigeria suffered painful defeats in international tournaments](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/08082023/62aa9d76-8bd8-4e1c-b0f9-44c5c4feb1e7.png?operations=fit(180:))
08:32 - 10.08.2023
Super Falcons: 5 times Nigeria suffered painful defeats in international tournaments
The Super Falcons defeat to England in the round of 16 clash yesterday left a bitter taste in the mouth of Nigerian football fans.
![VIDEO: When God-inspired Vincent Enyeama frustrated Lionel Messi at the World Cup](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/27072023/c02e0215-00ef-4ed6-b7e4-982e0cae95af.png?operations=fit(180:))
21:56 - 27.07.2023
THROWBACK VIDEO: When God-inspired Vincent Enyeama frustrated Lionel Messi at the World Cup
Then-Super Eagles custodian, Enyeama, denied Lionel Messi with a plethora of saves at the global showpiece in 2010.
![VIDEO: When Ahmed Musa dared to upstage Lionel Messi at the World Cup](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/13072023/07048fa4-e194-47ef-a4c2-97e3f00badc7.png?operations=fit(180:))
15:54 - 13.07.2023
THROWBACK VIDEO: When Ahmed Musa dared to upstage Lionel Messi at the World Cup
Remembering the events from Porto Alegre in 2014, when the Super Eagles wide attacker threatened to outdo one of the sport’s greatest players when Nigeria did battle with Argentina.
![Messi might quit national team duties with Argentina ahead of MLS move](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/25062023/258eacfa-1fd1-422f-9501-62e7917b4637.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
15:37 - 25.06.2023
Messi might quit national team duties with Argentina ahead of MLS move
According to reports, Lionel Messi intends to temporarily take a break in his international career after recently moving to the MLS.
![5 records Lionel Messi set that may never be broken](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/24062023/3c080e53-77b9-4f9d-8d9c-053f78a68754.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
17:45 - 24.06.2023
5 records Lionel Messi set that may never be broken
There will never be enough superlatives to describe Lionel Messi's career and even as we reach the end of his glittering run, the Argentine maestro continues to break records.
![Messi smashed goalscoring record as Argentina cruise past Australia](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/15062023/8d66a66a-6928-49df-a449-3995f30f3236.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
15:21 - 15.06.2023
Messi smashed goalscoring record as Argentina cruise past Australia
Lionel Messi broke another personal record as he led Argentina to victory over Australia
![Fans warned against ‘drink with Messi for $42,000’ scam](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/05052023/77f47140-735e-47f7-8caf-342be13725a7.jpeg?operations=fit(180:))
07:00 - 12.06.2023
FOOTBALL: Fans warned against ‘drink with Messi for $42,000’ scam
The iconic footballer is in China ahead of Argentina’s friendly match against Australia.
![Debate finally settled as research data shows Messi is far greater than Ronaldo](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/09062023/8fc4c7e6-a520-4e86-a1b8-19b2e0bb3407.png?operations=fit(180:))
15:27 - 09.06.2023
Debate finally settled as research data shows Messi is far greater than Ronaldo
The wait is finally over as the long-running argument about who is the greatest player between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has been resolved.
![Argentina U20 vs Nigeria U20: Flying Eagles to gain revenge and other betting tips](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/31052023/2ecff015-1869-4eb9-aab1-e355501c23b3.jpg?operations=fit(180:))
10:17 - 31.05.2023
Argentina U20 vs Nigeria U20: Flying Eagles to gain revenge and other betting tips
The FIFA Under 20 World Cup has reached its knockout stages and we have made available some stats and outcomes for the game between Argentina U20 and Nigeria U20.
![Flying Eagles renew hostilities with Argentina in U20 World Cup](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/28052023/6c0bceae-e8dc-40ce-a6bc-9b14419282dc.png?operations=fit(180:))
23:59 - 28.05.2023
Flying Eagles renew hostilities with Argentina in U20 World Cup
In a replay of the 2005 final featuring a certain Lionel Messi, Nigeria will play hosts Argentina in the round-of-16 at the 2023 U20 World Cup
!['You are the best' — Basketball icon Shaquille O'Neal sends loving message to Lionel Messi](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/26052023/c6ee9225-36b3-46ae-9185-f6f81303cf04.png?operations=fit(180:))
23:36 - 26.05.2023
'You are the best' — Basketball icon Shaquille O'Neal sends loving message to Lionel Messi
Basketball icon Shaquille O'Neal sends affectionate message to Lionel Messi and calling him the best.
![Messi set to start against AC Ajaccio- Galtier](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/12052023/d536c5c4-6fc4-45ab-9de8-8cc2a4130594.jpeg?operations=fit(180:))
18:29 - 12.05.2023
FOOTBALL Messi set to start against AC Ajaccio- Galtier
The Argentina captain was initially suspended by the club for two weeks for the trip.