Argentina defeated Peru 1-0 on Tuesday in a match for the twelfth round of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, played at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires.Lautaro Martínez scored the only goal of the night for the victory of the world champion, who widely dominated the game.

With this result, Argentina remains at the top of the qualifying round with 25 points, while Peru remained at the bottom of the table with 7 points, practically without a chance of fighting for a ticket to the North American World Cup.

It didn't take long for Argentina to take control of the game, with a dynamic start, against an Inca opponent who had at least five defenders in a line, but who in some stretches had up to seven defenders as a barrier to contain the Albiceleste.

Tagliafico warned with a left-footed shot high, Julián Álvarez hit a right-footed shot at the base of the right post, Mac Allister headed just wide, and Montiel defined millimetres from the post, in the clearest chances for the Albiceleste in the first half.

Everything went for the world champion in that segment of the match, with the field tilted towards Gallese's area, who had to roll around every now and then while, on the other side, Dibu Martínez was a privileged spectator.

Argentina rounded off the first half with 76% possession and six shots, while Peru, focused on cutting off the home team's circuits, forgot about the area in front of them, and did not even try a shot at goal, with the veteran Paolo Guerrero alone and far from everything as a reference.

Finally, the opening came, and when it was not, Lionel Messi rubbed Aladdin's lamp to open his way between three defenders and send a cross from the left to the penalty spot, where Lautaro connected with a left-footed scissor kick to send the ball away from Gallese's hands.

It was a significant goal for Martínez, who thus reached 32 goals for the Argentine national team and equalled Diego Maradona's record as the fifth scorer on Argentina's all-time list.

"I'm happy, I always want to give my best and improve myself. We closed the year with a victory. It was a spectacular year for me in terms of performance, goals, but we have to keep working and improve," said Lautaro after the match.

The Inter Milan striker was close to scoring again with a left-footed shot that went wide, and only when they were down did Peru break out of the siege and dare to attack.

It took the Inca team 65 minutes to see the Argentine goal, when substitute Lapadula tried with a free kick from far away, the first visiting shot of the night, followed by another shot from Sergio Peña that also missed the goal.

Fossati sent Lapadula onto the pitch for the injured Guerrero, as well as Reyna and Rivera, but the accumulation of attackers was not enough to unsettle an Argentina that sealed the victory without any major problems, with a small margin in numbers, but enough to add points and get one step closer to the next World Cup.