Although Lionel Messi played in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Paraguay last week, there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready for Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifying match against Peru.
Despite experiencing muscle soreness in the weeks preceding the match, Messi was able to participate in the majority of the second half of last Thursday’s match against Paraguay.

Though he has been exercising with the team, there is no guarantee he will play against Peru on Tuesday.

Neymar, meanwhile, is under criticism in Brazil for his dismal showing in last week’s 1-1 draw with Venezuela, which resulted in some spectators hurling popcorn at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá. Uruguay will present him with a formidable test to prove his return to form.

The 48-team system for the next World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada will grant direct entrance to the top six South American nations. To earn a spot in the intercontinental playoffs, the seventh-place team will compete.

Argentina, the victor of the World Cup, has the most points (7) in continental qualifying, ahead of Brazil (5), Uruguay, Chile and Venezuela (4), Ecuador (3), Paraguay and Peru (1), and Bolivia (0).

Paraguay plays Bolivia, Venezuela plays Chile, and Ecuador plays Colombia on the fourth matchday of South American qualification.

PERU against GERMANY

It was unclear from Argentina’s practice on Sunday if 36-year-old Messi will play against Peru. He participated in part of the morning practice at the national team’s training facility, but he has missed many MLS matches for his club, Inter Miami, due to recent muscular soreness in his right leg.

Coach Lionel Scaloni may have to substitute Lautaro Martinez or Julián Alvarez for Messi if Messi plays for Peru instead of the starting team that defeated Paraguay. If the captain stays in the starting lineup, Argentina will probably have to play Nico Gonzalez once again in Lima.

Argentina was up against Paraguay when Messi replaced Julián Álvarez in the 52nd minute. He had a lackluster showing overall at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium in Buenos Aires, hitting the post twice.

In South American qualification, Peru has dropped its last two games. Just before daybreak, the team landed in quiet so that supporters wouldn’t be at the airport demonstrating against their team’s 2-0 loss to Chile. The World Cup champion presents a far greater test, as both the players and coach Juan Reynoso are aware.

Following the game in Santiago, Reynoso said during a press conference, “May this defeat today suit us for what is coming.” “You qualify by playing well; you don’t qualify by playing great soccer. We must work as a chameleonic team that can adjust to different situations if we are to accomplish it.

Brazil vs. Uruguay

The draw between Brazil and Venezuela, a team that has never made it to the World Cup, infuriated the Brazilian supporters. After that match, the 31-year-old Neymar received the most criticism from the team for a number of misdirected passes and careless finishes.

As some supporters tossed popcorn at him, the Al-Hilal striker was seen furiously exiting the field on camera. In Brazilian soccer lore, players who fall short in pivotal moments are referred to as “pipoqueiro” (popcorn man). On Tuesday, he is probably going to play Uruguay at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo.

With 79 goals in official matches, Neymar holds the record for most goals scored by a Brazilian.

Fernando Diniz, Brazil’s new coach, who faced criticism as well following the tie with Venezuela, is probably going to make three changes for the following qualifying round.

Due to an injury, right-back Danilo will be replaced by Yan Couto. Carlos Augusto, 24, is anticipated to replace left-back Guilherme Arana, starting for the first time for his country. Additionally, Gabriel Jesus may displace forward Richarlison, who has not scored a goal in six games for the national team.

Since 2001, Uruguay has not defeated Brazil in World Cup qualifying. Federico Valverde, the captain, is upbeat about the game following a 2-2 tie with Colombia. He said that he had been discussing the encounter for weeks with Brazilian teammates Rodrygo and Vinicius Júnior of Real Madrid.

Regarding the draw, Valverde remarked, “We could have done better, but at least we came back with one point, which always suits us.” Since the beginning of South American qualifying, Marcelo Bielsa, an Argentine, has been Uruguay’s coach.