Lionel Messi did end up making an appearance, featuring off the bench as a substitute. As it turns out, though, Argentina didn't really need him to take care of Paraguay in Thursday's World Cup qualifying clash at the Estadio Monumental.
Argentina got their goal early from an unlikely source as another familiar face led the way in the 1-0 win. Defender Nicolas Otamendi fired home a fantastic volley just three minutes in, and Argentina never looked back.
Thanks to fantastic performances from the midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo de Paul and Enzo Fernandez, Paraguay never really got a sniff of the game. By the time Messi came into the match early in the second half, replacing the impressive Julian Alvarez, it felt like the game was only going one way.
Messi hit the post twice, despite looking far from his best, but it wouldn't come back to bite Argentina, who made it three wins from three in CONMEBOL's qualifiers as they march on in their World Cup defense.
GOAL rates Argentina's players from the Estadio Monumental.