Despite Lionel Messi's return from injury and an early goal by Nicolas Otamendi, Argentina was unable to secure a victory against Venezuela. The visitors fought back and equalized in the second half, ultimately holding Argentina to a 1-1 draw. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, Argentina's position in the competition remains strong with 19 points after nine matches. Argentina will host Bolivia while Venezuela faces Paraguay in their next matches.
South American World Cup Qualifiers: Argentina Draws with Venezuela
In a surprising turn of events, the Argentina national football team was held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela in a CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup Qualifier on Friday night. Despite the return of star player Lionel Messi from injury, Argentina was unable to capitalize on their early lead and secure a victory.
Match Summary
The match began with Argentina taking an early lead in the 21st minute, courtesy of a header from defender Nicolas Otamendi. However, Venezuela fought back in the second half and equalized in the 71st minute through substitute Erickson Gallardo. Argentina pushed for a winning goal in the remaining minutes, but the Venezuelan defense held firm.
Argentina's World Cup Hopes
Despite the disappointing result, Argentina remains in a strong position in the CONMEBOL standings, with 19 points after nine matches. Brazil leads the group with 27 points, followed by Argentina and Ecuador with 19 points each. The top four teams in the group will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Messi's Performance
After missing several matches due to injury, Messi made his return to the Argentina team on Friday night. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner looked sharp and created several chances for his teammates. However, he was unable to score himself and was substituted in the second half.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Why did Argentina draw with Venezuela? Argentina failed to capitalize on their early lead and Venezuela capitalized on their chances in the second half.
2. What does the result mean for Argentina's World Cup hopes? Argentina remains in a strong position to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, sitting in second place in the CONMEBOL standings.
3. How did Messi perform in his return? Messi looked sharp and created chances for his teammates, but was unable to score himself and was substituted in the second half.
4. Who scored Venezuela's goal? Erickson Gallardo scored Venezuela's equalizer in the 71st minute.
5. What are the upcoming matches for Argentina and Venezuela? Argentina will host Bolivia on Tuesday, March 28th, while Venezuela will face Paraguay on the same day.
As the summer transfer window progresses, Manchester United are keen on bolstering their attacking options and have made contact with Eintracht Frankfurt to secure the signing of Hugo Ekitike. They have also managed to secure the future of promising young defender Jayden Ngwashi amidst interest from other top European clubs. While talks with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo continue, it seems like United are determined to add a new striker to their squad.
On June 27, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union revealed the regional softball pairings for the upcoming tournament. The games are scheduled to take place on specific dates in July, depending on the class division. The state tournament will be held in Fort Dodge later in July for all classes.
The Club World Cup round of 16 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami was marred by controversial moments, including a yellow card for Inter Miami's Luis Suarez and a questionable injury for Oscar Ustari. Ultimately, it was a goal from PSG's Joao Neves that sealed Inter Miami's fate, while tensions on the field were highlighted by a signal from PSG's Willian Pacho towards Inter Miami's Lionel Messi. With this loss, Inter Miami's dream of a Champions League title has come to an abrupt end.
The Club World Cup round of 16 match between Inter Miami and Paris Saint-Germain saw PSG, with a former star player Lionel Messi, dominate and win 4-0. Defensive struggles and an early injury to Miami's defender Noah Allen contributed to their downfall. Messi and his team spent most of the first half in their own territory, while PSG's forward line continued to excel offensively. This loss ends Miami's run in the Club World Cup.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri led McLaren to victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari completing the podium. The win helped Norris narrow the gap to Piastri in the drivers' standings, while McLaren now has a total of 374 points in the team tally. Despite the tough conditions, Norris and Piastri battled it out to secure the 1-2 finish for McLaren, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen suffered a disappointing race and is now 61 points behind Piastri in the overall standings.
In this highly anticipated Club World Cup match, the renowned Lionel Messi will lead his team, Inter Miami, against the star-studded PSG. Fans can expect live updates, detailed match commentary, and stunning photos as the two teams go head to head in the round of 16. Stay tuned for all the action and drama as it unfolds between these top football clubs.
The Austrian Grand Prix 2025 at Red Bull Ring made for a chaotic start as Red Bull's ace driver Max Verstappen and Mercedes' newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed on the first lap itself. This left the race in disarray, with McLaren's Lando Norris starting in pole position and Mercedes' Antonelli in P9. The crash has raised questions about Verstappen's future and Antonelli's prospects. However, Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner has put an end to rumors of Verstappen's move to Mercedes, reminding everyone that he is contracted with Red Bull for a few more years. Stay updated on all the latest news from India and across the world on News24 through our social media handles on Facebook and Twitter.
At the Austrian Grand Prix, Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli was handed a three-place grid drop for the British Grand Prix after causing a spectacular crash with Formula One champion Max Verstappen. This incident happened during the opening lap of the race, as Antonelli lost control and took out Verstappen, who was unable to continue. The reckless collision adds another chapter to the ongoing rivalry between the two top drivers.
Lando Norris triumphed in a thrilling battle against team-mate Oscar Piastri at the Austrian Grand Prix, clinching his third victory of the F1 2025 season. Norris' win has narrowed Piastri's lead in the Drivers' standings to just 15 points, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc also joining the McLaren duo on the podium with a third-place finish. The heated competition between the two McLaren drivers was evident in the post-race conversations, with Norris playfully remarking on the battle and showing off his damaged wing. Full statistics for the team-mates' performances in qualifying and the race are also provided for further analysis.
Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the upcoming British Grand Prix, after causing a collision with Max Verstappen on the opening lap of the Austrian GP. The FIA determined that Antonelli was fully at fault for the incident, which also resulted in two penalty points. The young driver took immediate responsibility and is focused on moving forward and redeeming himself at the next race.