In a World Cup qualifying match on Thursday, Argentina defeated Paraguay 1-0 with Lionel Messi coming off the bench.

Messi replaced Julian Alvarez in the 53rd minute of the game. His MLS season will come to an end next weekend when Inter Miami is out of the running for the playoffs.

Lionel Messi came on as a substitute to help Argentina beat Paraguay on Thursday night

Messi and Paraguay’s Alvaro Campuzano battle on Thursday night during a World Cup qualifier

The Inter Miami star started on the bench but entered in the 53rd minute for Julian AlvarezIn the third minute, Nicolas Otamendi gave the favorites the only goal.

Argentina’s victory puts them atop the South American qualifying table with three victories in a row.

On Tuesday, they will go to Lima for a second qualifying match against Peru.

Recently, Messi had to struggle with a muscle ailment that kept him out of four Miami games.

Last Saturday against FC Cincinnati, he was back in the starting lineup, although he only saw 36 minutes of bench time as his side was defeated. 

After Miami was knocked out of the playoffs, the 36-year-old was linked to a loan move to Saudi Arabia or Barcelona. The MLS regular season doesn’t start again until February after it ends on October 21.

On Wednesday, Fabrizio Romano refuted those rumors, stating that Messi is preparing for a rather busy November by putting his “full focus” on Miami and Argentina.

Messi will likely play Brazil and Uruguay in World Cup qualifying matches following the conclusion of the Major League Soccer season.

Additionally, it has been reported that Miami will play two post-season friendlies in China and Japan.