Lautaro Martinez equals Maradona’s iconic scoring record.©(@fcbfn_live )
Lautaro Martinez joined Diego Maradona on Argentina’s all-time scoring charts with his 32nd international goal during a 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Peru in Buenos Aires. Martinez, aged 27, volleyed home a left-footed finish from a Lionel Messi cross in the 55th minute, marking his 70th appearance for the national team.
The Inter Milan captain’s achievement places him joint-fifth alongside Maradona, but the gap to Argentina’s all-time top scorer, Lionel Messi, remains significant. Messi leads with an incredible 112 international goals. Gabriel Batistuta, Sergio Aguero, and Hernan Crespo complete the top five scorers in Argentina’s history.
In addition to his assist, Messi, 37, tied with former U.S. forward Landon Donovan for the most international assists with 58. Despite dominating the game, Lionel Scaloni’s side missed chances to widen their lead. Julian Alvarez struck the post, while Alexis Mac Allister sent a header wide.
The victory solidifies Argentina’s position at the top of the South American World Cup qualifying table. With six matches remaining, Argentina is now five points clear, showcasing their strong form in the campaign for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Elsewhere, Brazil endured a frustrating 1-1 draw against Uruguay in Salvador, drawing jeers from home fans. Federico Valverde gave Uruguay the lead early in the second half before Gerson equalized for Brazil with his first international goal. The result leaves Brazil fifth in the table, with the top six teams qualifying directly for the World Cup.
Ecuador secured an impressive 1-0 win over Colombia thanks to a brilliant solo goal by former Premier League forward Enner Valencia. The victory moved Ecuador into third place in terms of goal difference, overtaking Colombia.
Paraguay and Bolivia shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw, with Newcastle United’s Miguel Almiron among the scorers for Paraguay, who remain sixth. Bolivia, currently seventh, holds a playoff spot by a single point over Venezuela, who lost 4-2 to Chile in a high-scoring encounter.
The South American qualifiers continue to deliver drama as teams battle for automatic qualification and playoff positions for the 2026 World Cup.
