The 11th game in the 2026 World Cup qualifying round in South America pitted the Argentina and Paraguay teams against one another, and Brazilian referee Anderson Daronco’s calls were particularly noteworthy.

Lionel Messi led a counterattack in the 37th minute of the first half, but Omar Alderete, a Paraguayan defender who had already been given a yellow card, committed a blatant foul that earned him a second yellow card and disqualification. The Brazilian referee, however, disregarded this circumstance because the home team player had already received a warning.The entire Argentine team was incensed by this decision. In addition to the players, coach Lionel Scaloni also voiced his displeasure with the referee, calling him “brazen” and requesting a penalty.

“Omar Alderete fouled Messi but Daronco did not disqualify him,” Scaloni erupted.In order to help Alderete avoid being sent off early, Lionel Messi came forward to address the referee at the end of the first half, highlighting once more the grave error in his choice. The first half of the match ended in a dramatic moment in Asunción when the captain of Argentina turned to face the referee and raised his finger as though to ask a question.

Referee Daronco’s choice to overlook the error had immediate repercussions in the second half, as Alderete’s goal gave Paraguay a brief 2-1 lead that they finally maintained.The crowd was ecstatic when the midfielder, who formerly played for Gimnasia de La Plata and Huracán, beat goalkeeper Dibu Martínez with a diagonal header to win the game in Argentina’s penalty area. Argentina’s annoyance with Daronco’s contentious choice grew at Defensores del Chaco Stadium.Argentina, who were just three points ahead of Colombia but had played one more game, lost the chance to keep the lead with the chasing group after their heartbreaking loss to Paraguay.