Lionel Messi will be bidding to help Argentina return to winning ways when the reigning world champions take on Peru in a 2026 World Cup qualification fixture on Tuesday night.
Argentina will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Paraguay, with the result leaving them on 22 points from their 11 qualification fixtures, which is enough for first spot in the section, three points ahead of second-placed Uruguay.
Messi is the leading goalscorer in the South American World Cup qualification section, finding the back of the net on six occasions, and he will be aiming to help Lionel Scaloni's side pick up an important three points in this contest.
Here, Sports Mole looks at how Messi has performed against Peru in the past, as the Inter Miami forward prepares to take to the field for the 10th time versus La Blanquirroja.
Lionel Messi record vs. Peru
Played: 9
Won: 6
Drawn: 3
Lost: 0
Goals: 3
Assists: 1
Messi has faced Peru on nine occasions during his professional career, and he is unbeaten against them, boasting six wins and three draws, scoring three times and registering one assist in the process.
Eight of those encounters have come in World Cup qualification matches, with Messi winning five times, with the other three games finishing level, while he has two goals and one assist against them in the competition.
Inter Miami forward Messi has also taken to the field against Peru in the Copa America, scoring once in a 4-0 success for Argentina in the quarter-finals of the competition back in 2007.
Messi scored a brace in the reverse clash between Argentina and Peru back in October 2023, with those two goals proving to be his first ones against Peru since the 2007 Copa America, which is somewhat of a surprise.
His record against Peru is slightly disappointing considering his incredible career, and he will be aiming to add to his 112 goals for Argentina when the two teams lock horns on Tuesday night.
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Argentina
Uruguay
Ecuador
Colombia
Brazil
Paraguay
Bolivia
Venezuela
Peru
Chile
