Lionel Messi might have announced his retirement from international football after Argentina's loss to Chile in the Copa America Centenario, but, having made a u-turn, the Barcelona forward showed just why everyone clamoured for his return by netting the winner for his country in the South American 2018 World Cup qualifiers on Thursday.
With the new Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza convincing Messi to go back on his decision to retire, it proved to be a masterstroke as the 29-year-old put his stamp on the game with a wonderful turn and strike which went into the bottom corner, giving the Argentines a 1-0 win over Uruguay.
The work was not done for Argentina, however, as the home team had to play with ten men for the entire second half after Paulo Dybala was sent off just before halftime. The defence stood strong and quelled Uruguay's surge, though, with the win taking Argentina to the top of the South American table, on 14 points from seven matches, usurping their opponents in the process.
The team that led to Messi announcing his shortlived retirement – Chile – continued to struggle in World Cup qualifying, going down to Paraguay 2-1. After Oscar Romero and Paulo da Silva gave Paraguay a 2-0 lead inside ten minutes in Asuncion, Chile could only answer one back, courtesy Arturo Vidal in the 37th minute.
Chile have a lot of work to do to get in those automatic qualifying places, because they currently sit in seventh on 10 points.
Neymar and Gabriel Jesus carried their form from the Rio 2016 Olympics into the World Cup qualifiers, scoring in a 3-0 win over Ecuador in Quito. Neymar opened the goal spree for the South American giants in the 72nd minute from the penalty spot, before Jesus, who was impressive in Rio as Brazil won a gold medal, added two more, in the 87th and 92nd minutes.
In the other matches, Bolivia beat Peru 2-0, while Colombia topped Venezuela with the same scoreline. Bolivia got their goals through Pablo Escobar (38) and Ronald Raldes, pushing them above Peru in the process, and into the third from bottom position.
James Rodriguez might still be struggling for regular game time at Real Madrid, but in a Colombia shirt he is the main man, and the playmaker showed that again, giving his country the lead two minutes into first half stoppage time, with Macnelly Torres adding the insurance goal late in the second.
