World Cup qualifiers: Argentina lose to Paraguay, Brazil stumble in Venezuela

Reigning champions and five-time winners suffer shock reversals to leave South American qualifying group wide open

- AJEYO BASU

Defending champions Argentina and five-time winners Brazil tripped up in their respective matches, throwing the South American group of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers into delightful uncertainty.

Argentina suffered a big setback as they suffered a shock 1-2 reversal at the hands of Paraguay in an away match.

Former FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi struggled to make an impact – both on the field and on the scoreboard – throughout a rather frustrating evening in Asuncion for the three-time World Cup winners. The legendary forward went goalless, with the Argentina forward line struggling to get past the Paraguay defence.

Messi, whose somewhat hectic 2024 is coming to an end with a losing streak, could only watch helplessly from the other end of the field as Paraguay's Antonio Sanabria scored with a bicycle kick to put the hosts back on level terms after Lautaro Martinez had handed the lead to the reigning world champions in the 11th minute.