Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazil's Vinicius Júnior had frustrating nights in South American World Cup qualifying. While Messi could not help his team avoid a 2-1 defeat at Paraguay, Vinicius Junior missed a second-half penalty as Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw at Venezuela on Thursday.

Argentina will remain on the top of the 10-team round robin competition with 22 points in 11 matches. Brazil are provisionally in third place in the standings with 17 points

A second-half Vinicius Junior penalty miss saw Venezuela hold on to share the points with Brazil in Monagas. The two teams traded chances in the opening half of play, and were it not for some heroic defending and goalkeeping it could have been a high-scoring affair.

Argentina and Brazil will have two of their leading stars available again as South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup resumes with the last two rounds of games this year.

South American leaders Argentina will play at Paraguay on Thursday, shortly after fourth-place Brazil visits Venezuela

Brazil had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Venezuela after a quick-fire second-half strike by substitute Telasco Segovia canceled out Raphinha's opener for the dominant visitors in the South American World Cup qualifiers on Thursday.

Lionel Messi returns to action with the Argentine national team Thursday night for a 2026 World Cup qualifying match on the road against Paraguay.

What started off ideally for Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates on Thursday during a qualifying match towards the 2026 World Cup soon turned into a night to forget. The visitors and CONMEBOL qualification leaders,