Tue Nov 19 21:37:34 UTC 2024: ## Messi Muted as Paraguay Upsets World Cup Champions Argentina

**ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay** – A stunning bicycle kick and a headed goal handed Paraguay a 2-1 victory over reigning World Cup champions Argentina in a shock South American World Cup qualifier Thursday. Despite the loss, Argentina remains atop the standings.

Argentina took an early lead through Lautaro Martínez after a VAR review overturned an initial offside call. However, Paraguay quickly responded. Antonio Sanabria’s spectacular overhead kick leveled the score, leaving Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez with no chance.

The home side then took the lead early in the second half when Omar Alderete headed home from a free kick. While Argentina captain Lionel Messi saw limited impact in the match, he was twice fouled by Alderete, escaping a potential second yellow card before halftime. Despite several late attempts, Argentina couldn’t find an equalizer.

Post-match reactions were mixed. Lautaro Martínez attributed Argentina’s defeat to defensive errors on set pieces, while coach Lionel Scaloni praised Paraguay’s strong defensive performance. Former US international Herculez Gomez (whose reaction wasn’t detailed in the original text) likely shared the general surprise at the upset.

Despite the loss, Argentina maintains its top position in the World Cup qualifying table with 22 points from 11 games and faces Peru in its next match. The top six teams will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

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