Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni revealed that Lionel Messi requested to be substituted during the closing minutes of their dramatic 1-1 draw with Colombia at Estadio Monumental. The World Cup qualifiers clash was packed with intensity, emotion, and unexpected moments.
Colombia drew first blood in the 24th minute, thanks to a brilliant solo effort by Luis Díaz, who weaved through Argentina’s defense and found the net with precision. The goal stunned the home crowd, while Colombian fans erupted in celebration.
Things went from bad to worse for Argentina in the 70th minute when midfielder Enzo Fernández received a red card. The Chelsea star caught Kevin Castaño in the face with a high boot while contesting for the ball, causing a serious collision that required immediate medical treatment.
With Argentina trailing and down to 10 men, coach Scaloni made a surprising call — taking off Lionel Messi with just 12 minutes remaining and bringing on Exequiel Palacios. Moments after Messi exited the pitch, Thiago Almada stepped up and equalized with a clinical strike into the bottom corner, ensuring Argentina salvaged a valuable point.
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Post-match, Scaloni addressed the unexpected substitution of Messi. “Leo wasn’t supposed to come off, but he told me it was better for him to leave the field. So, we made the change,” Scaloni told Goal.com. “The most satisfying part was how we responded even with 10 men and without Messi, the team kept fighting and chasing every ball.”
Despite the draw, Argentina remains unbeaten and sits comfortably at the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying table with 35 points from 16 matches. Their final qualification fixtures are scheduled for September, where they will face Venezuela and Ecuador.
Meanwhile, Brazil confirmed their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Paraguay, continuing the fierce South American race to North America.
