Messi opens the scoring by calmly converting a penalty, driving a left‑footed shot into the bottom left corner to put Argentina 1–0 up.

Messi threads a precise pass to Sergio Agüero, who finishes with a left‑footed shot from the left side of the box to restore Argentina’s lead at 2–1.

Messi unleashes a left‑footed shot from outside the box that is heading for the bottom right corner, but the goalkeeper saves it.

From outside the area, Messi strikes a powerful left‑footed effort towards the top left corner, only to see it turned away by the keeper.

Messi’s long‑range effort from distance almost finds the top corner, forcing a difficult save and coming close to extending Argentina’s lead.

Driving into the penalty area with the ball, Messi’s movement and control draw a foul from defender Salustiano Candía, earning Argentina a penalty.

Messi steps up again from the spot and slots a composed left‑footed penalty into the bottom right corner to make it 4–1 for Argentina.

Messi drops deep into his own half, carrying the ball and winning a foul that relieves pressure on Argentina’s defense.

Messi slices open Paraguay’s defense with a through ball to Ángel Di María, whose right‑footed effort from the left side of the box is blocked.

Messi’s incisive through ball releases Di María in the box, and although the shot is blocked, it creates a clear chance that nearly leads to another Argentina goal.

Messi attempts a through ball to Éver Banega that would send him in behind, but the move is cut short as Banega is flagged offside.