Fri Nov 15 03:14:55 UTC 2024: ## Messi Mania Defies Paraguay’s Shirt Ban: Scaloni Confident Argentina Jerseys Will Fill Stadium Despite APF Restrictions

**Asuncion, Paraguay:** Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni remains optimistic that Lionel Messi jerseys will be a common sight in the home section of the Defensores del Chaco stadium despite a ban imposed by the Paraguayan Football Association (APF) for Thursday’s South American World Cup 2026 qualifier.

The APF, citing the importance of home ground advantage, has prohibited fans from wearing any jerseys representing Argentina, Argentine clubs, or clubs featuring players from other countries. This includes, notably, Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey.

While Paraguayan manager Fernando Villasboa insists the ban is not specifically aimed at Messi, but rather to promote home team spirit, Scaloni sees it differently. “Logically, for the Paraguayan footballer, for the fan, they all want to wear the national team shirt. But Leo is stronger than all that and there will be Argentina shirts,” he confidently asserted during a press conference.

Scaloni believes the global impact of Messi, Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and World Cup winner, transcends such measures. He emphasized that simply wearing a jersey does not equate to supporting a particular team and believes it is a positive sign that fans recognize Messi’s unique influence on the sport.

Paraguayan coach Gustavo Alfaro, while acknowledging Messi as a rival, admitted he was unaware of the shirt ban, suggesting it may be aimed at reducing potential conflicts. He expressed his wish for Messi to perform exceptionally well, but only against Peru in their upcoming match, not against Paraguay.

The match between Paraguay and Argentina kicks off on Thursday, with Argentina currently leading the South American standings with 22 points, three points ahead of Colombia. They will then face Peru on November 19th.

Read More