Argentina defeated Peru 1-0 in the South American World Cup qualifiers, with Lionel Messi providing the assist for the only goal of the match.
Following the game, Peruvian captain Paolo Guerrero criticized the officiating, accusing the referee of showing favoritism toward Argentina.
"I’m not sure how to analyze this match, but physically I believe we were on par with them. It's difficult when the referee restricts you and corners you," Guerrero remarked.
"They pushed us, and the referee didn’t call a single foul, but if you touched Messi, it was always a foul."
He added, "No one says anything because it's Messi."
Peru now faces a serious challenge in securing a spot for the 2026 World Cup, as they currently sit at the bottom of the CONMEBOL qualifiers with just seven points from 12 matches.
Meanwhile, Argentina remains in a strong position at the top of the standings with 25 points after 12 rounds.
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
