Messi takes a direct free kick from outside the box with his left foot, sending a dangerous effort just wide to the left of the Paraguay goal.

Driving forward in the attacking half, Messi draws a foul and wins a free kick for Argentina after being stopped by the Paraguayan defense.

Messi drops deep into his own half, controls the ball under pressure and is fouled, earning a free kick in the defensive zone.

Messi sets up Guido Rodríguez on the edge of the area, but Rodríguez’s powerful right-footed strike from distance is blocked by a Paraguayan defender.

Early in the second half, Messi helps relieve pressure by carrying the ball in his own half before being fouled, winning a defensive free kick.

Messi again drops deep, shielding the ball and drawing a foul to win another free kick in Argentina’s defensive half.

Argentina tries to launch a counter as Di María plays a through ball toward Messi, but the move is halted when Messi is flagged offside.

Messi tracks back and concedes a corner to Paraguay while defending inside his own penalty area, showing his work rate off the ball.

Late in the match, Messi carries the ball in his own half and is fouled, earning Argentina yet another defensive free kick as they look to see out the game.

From outside the box, Messi fires a left-footed shot on goal that is saved centrally by the Paraguayan keeper, denying him a potential clinching strike.