Lionel Messi comes off the bench for Argentina as Nicolas Otamendi’s early strike earns La Albiceleste a crucial 1-0 win in World Cup qualifier against Paraguay

Lionel Messi came off the bench for Argentina on Thursday as the Albiceleste beat Paraguay 1-0 in World Cup qualifying.

Messi, whose MLS season ends next weekend with Inter Miami’s elimination from the playoffs, entered the game in the 53rd minute for Julian Alvarez.

Nicolas Otamendi scored the only goal for the favorites in the third minute.

With this victory, Argentina leads the South American qualifiers with three victories in as many matches.

They will travel to Lima on Tuesday for another qualifying match against Peru.

Lionel Messi came on as a substitute to help Argentina beat Paraguay on Thursday night.

Messi and Paraguay’s Alvaro Campuzano face off in a World Cup qualifying match on Thursday night

The Inter Miami star started on the bench but came on in the 53rd minute for Julian Alvarez.

Messi recently suffered a muscle injury that forced him to miss four games for Miami.

He returned to the lineup last weekend against FC Cincinnati, but played just 36 minutes off the bench as his team lost.

The 36-year-old had been linked with a loan move to Saudi Arabia or Barcelona after Miami was knocked out of the playoffs – with the MLS regular season not due to resume until February after concluding on October 21.

However, Fabrizio Romano poured cold water on those claims on Wednesday, saying Messi was “fully focused” on Miami and Argentina as he prepared for a relatively busy November.

After the MLS season ends, Messi is expected to face Uruguay and Brazil in the World Cup qualifiers.

And reports suggest Miami will also travel to China and Japan to play two post-season friendlies.