A spectacular strike from Lautaro Martínez earned Argentina a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Peru in their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night, extending the reigning world champions’ unbeaten run in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The decisive moment came in the 56th minute when Martínez unleashed a thunderous shot from just outside the penalty area, beating the Peruvian goalkeeper and sending the packed crowd at Estadio Monumental into raptures. The Inter Milan forward’s effort highlighted a match where Argentina dominated possession but struggled to break down a resolute Peruvian defence.
Lionel Messi, returning to the starting lineup after a brief injury layoff, orchestrated much of Argentina’s attacking play, creating several chances for his teammates. However, Peru’s disciplined defensive setup and inspired goalkeeping kept the Albiceleste from adding to their lead.
Despite Peru’s defensive resilience, they offered little in attack, rarely testing Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. The visitors seemed content to absorb pressure, but Lautaro Martínez’s brilliance ultimately proved too much to handle.
With the victory, Argentina remains at the top of the South American qualifying standings, maintaining their perfect record. The team continues to build on their momentum from its World Cup triumph last year, solidifying its position as favourites to qualify for the 2026 tournament.
Peru, meanwhile, remains rooted near the bottom of the standings, with their hopes of qualification increasingly looking out of reach. Despite their determined defensive display, they struggled to offer a threat going forward, leaving coach Juan Reynoso with much to ponder.
Argentina will next face Uruguay, while Peru will host Bolivia in their bid to turn their fortunes around.
