Argentina secured their third consecutive victory in the round-robin competition with a 1-0 win against Paraguay in a South American World Cup qualifying match. Lionel Messi, returning from injury, played as a substitute but struggled to make a significant impact. The only goal came from Nicolás Otamendi’s left-foot volley following a corner kick. Messi hit the post twice in the match, with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni opting for Nico Gonzalez in the starting lineup. The win puts Argentina at the top of the standings with nine points, while Paraguay has one. Colombia and Uruguay drew 2-2, and Ecuador beat Bolivia 2-1. Brazil, Chile, and Peru are set to play later.