Lionel Messi scored the winning goal to kick start Argentina’s South American World Cup qualifying following a narrow 1-0 victory over Ecuador.

South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup started with Colombia beating Venezuela 1-0 and Peru holding on for a 0-0 draw in Paraguay with 10 men on the pitch.

Messi led Argentina to their third World Cup win in Qatar in December. He hasn’t said yet if he’ll stay with his national team until 2026, but he showed again how important he is by scoring the game-winning goal on a night that looked like it might be a frustrating one for Lionel Scaloni’s team.

Lautaro Martinez won a free kick in the middle of the pitch just outside of Ecuador’s penalty area in the 78th minute. Messi’s shot floated over the wall and dipped just right to beat Hernan Galindez, who was standing still.

With the goal, Messi tied Luis Suarez of Uruguay for the most goals ever scored in South American qualifiers. Both Messi and Suarez have 29 goals.

The Albiceleste had the ball most of the time against an Ecuador team that defended in numbers and only attacked when they got a break.

Messi had the first chance of the game when he was found on the edge of the box in the 16th minute. However, he put his side-footed shot wide of the post.

Just before halftime, Lautaro Martinez got closer when he slid in to meet a Rodrigo De Paul pass, but his shot hit the post.

Messi made a chance for himself in the 69th minute, but his low shot was weak and Galindez had no trouble stopping it.

But Messi’s goal got the 80,000 people in the Estadio Monumental to their feet, and Argentina never looked back after that.

De Paul, who was great all game, dribbled across from the right side to set up substitute Angel Di Maria, but his shot was just wide.

Then, De Paul’s close-range shot at the near post forced Galindez to make a great save near the end.

“Ecuador showed they have very good players, that they are physically strong and that they are clear about what they do,” Messi said.

“We know that in every game we have to give one hundred percent to pull it off. But we showed…that this group will not relax beyond what they achieved, which is something historic and extraordinary,” he added.

“We have to be aware that we enjoyed everything a lot, but what we did is over. We have to look ahead,” said the seven-times Ballon D’Or winner.

Colombia won in Barranquilla when Rafael Santos Borre headed in a cross from Jhon Arias in the 46th minute. This was enough for Colombia to get three points.

Nestor Lorenzo, who is from Argentina and is the new coach of Colombia, got off to a good start in his first game in charge.

Last year’s World Cup was in Qatar, but Colombia didn’t make it. Venezuela, on the other hand, is trying to make it to their first World Cup finals.

Peru was already having a hard time in Ciudad del Este, but when defender Luis Advncula was sent off for a second yellow card right before halftime, things got even worse.

But they held on for a point in a fast-paced match that was full of action.

The qualifying process for the 48-team World Cup, which will be held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, gives South America two extra spots, and six South American teams qualify directly.

The seventh of the 10 countries will go to a play-off between continents.

Brazil, which has won the World Cup five times, plays Bolivia on Friday. Uruguay hosts Chile.