Messi goal gives Argentina 1-0 win vs. Ecuador in 2026 World Cup qualifying: Highlights

It doesn’t matter where Lionel Messi plays in the world.

He still finds a way to shine brightly as soccer’s greatest star.

Messi scored a free kick in the 78th minute to lead Argentina to a 1-0 win over Ecuador during a 2026 World Cup qualifying match on Thursday night.

Messi – playing in his first game with Argentina since the 2022 World Cup final – scored in patented fashion, his left boot finding the left side of the net and leaving Ecuadorian goalkeeper Hernan Galindez cowering down to one knee after the score.

Messi celebrated with his arms spread out wide and a run toward his Argentina teammates, who mobbed him as fans inside Estadio Más Monumental celebrated despite the cold temperatures in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

It was a goal Messi has scored several times during his brief career with MLS team Inter Miami, and countless other times with Argentina during his illustrious career.

Messi – the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner – left the pitch before the 89th minute, about 10 minutes after his goal, as the crowd cheers his exit after he delivered once again.

TUNING IN: Argentina player subscribed to MLS Season Pass to watch Messi

Highlight: Messi's goal in Argentina's 1-0 win vs. Ecuador

Here's the highlight of the game in Argentina's 1-0 win against Ecuador:

How will Argentina fare in 2026 World Cup qualifying?

Argentina is expected to reach the World Cup again.

Argentina has three points in Conmebol qualifying, following its win over Ecuador. Ecuador ends the match with minus-three points.

Due to the World Cup expansion for 2026, six South American teams will qualify directly for the World Cup. A seventh team will play in the FIFA playoff tournament.

The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada and expanding to a 48-team format.

How many games will Messi play with Argentina?

Messi will be with the Argentine national team for two games in World Cup qualifying this month.

After the Ecuador match, Messi will remain with Argentina for its second qualifying match against Bolivia Sept. 12 at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, Bolivia.

How many Inter Miami games will Messi miss?

Messi will miss Saturday’s Inter Miami game against Sporting Kansas City at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

Messi’s participation in both Argentina games could impact his availability for Inter Miami’s match against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 16.

Will Messi play for Argentina again in the World Cup?

It’s unclear whether Messi, 36, will play for Argentina in the 2024 Copa America and the 2026 World Cup or will retire from national team competition before then.

“Even I don't know when. It’ll happen when it happens,” Messi said when asked about retiring during an interview broadcast on Argentine television in July. “After winning everything I want to enjoy the moment and wait for time to tell me when it's the moment.

"Logically, given my age, one would expect it to be soon, but I don't know for sure.”

While Messi’s World Cup final was expected to be his last World Cup game, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni could leave a roster spot open for the country’s biggest star.

“I think Messi can get to the next World Cup,” Scaloni said in January to Spanish radio Calvia FM. “It will depend a lot on what he wants, on whether he feels good. The door will always be open. He is happy on the pitch and it would be very nice for us.”

Messi’s World Cup win with Argentina

Messi was spectacular, scoring two goals and his penalty kick, to help Argentina outduel France 3-3 (4-2 penalty kicks) in the 2022 World Cup final last December.

In perhaps the greatest World Cup final, Messi was able to help Argentina outlast France star Kylian Mbappe’s hat trick to become world champions.

Messi was awarded the Golden Ball, given to the best player in the tournament.

How has Messi’s life changed since his World Cup win?

After winning the World Cup, Messi helped Paris Saint-Germain win back-to-back French Ligue 1 titles, but the club was eliminated in the Champions League Round of 16 in March.

Messi’s final game with PSG was in June, and he decided to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami club in the MLS in late July.

“I chose to come here. I wanted to come here. And it’s a decision we made with time. It wasn’t something we decided one day to the next. We are where we want to be. It’s a decision we made. That makes everything much easier and simpler,” Messi said during an Inter Miami press conference on Aug. 17.

“When I went to Paris, it wasn’t something I wanted. I didn’t want to leave Barcelona. In some ways, it was one day to the next. I had to adapt to somewhere completely different from where I lived all my life. But that’s totally different from my experience here.”

How has Messi performed with Inter Miami?

Messi’s worldwide stardom has been on full display, scoring 11 goals in his first 11 games with Inter Miami.

Messi has scored in eight games, and had two assists in two other victories. Inter Miami has a 10-1-0 (win-draw-loss) record with Messi since late July.

Messi helped Inter Miami win the Leagues Cup title on Aug. 19, and the club will play against the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup final on Sept. 27.

But in the MLS playoff race, Inter Miami is in a climb, eight points behind ninth-place D.C. United in the Eastern Conference.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lionel Messi goal today: Argentina vs. Ecuador score, highlights