Leo endured both triumphs and tough moments when playing at high altitude, a challenge that tests any footballer, especially in La Paz.
South American football may not always grab the headlines of European leagues, yet it presents a true test of skill and endurance. Opponents are relentless, and the conditions in highland venues add a distinctive spice to every match. The altitude is a factor that shapes strategies, player selection, and game tempo in ways that are hard to ignore.
HOW DID THE ARGENTINE NATIONAL TEAM ADAPT TO THE HEIGHT OF LA PAZ?
Views vary about altitude advantages. Some see it as an unfair edge to be neutralized, while others treat it as a natural factor teams must accept. Regardless of opinion, organizations like CONMEBOL and FIFA acknowledge that Bolivia, along with Ecuador, frequently hosts fixtures at La Paz and Quito, and that altitude is factored into planning. Colombia also occasionally plays in elevated venues. These conditions turn each match into a test of adaptation and endurance for players at every level of experience.
Very few players born in lower-altitude countries find it easy to adjust to these environments. Yet many footballers who compete in the Libertadores or Sudamericana tournaments have had to visit La Paz or Quito more than once. Lionel Messi, while not a resident of highland cities, has consistently accepted the challenge and faced it head on.
Three years ago, during a 2-1 victory over the Hernando Siles Stadium as part of the qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Messi had already climbed to La Paz altitude for the seventh time and his third ascent above 3,600 meters. Prior to that, he had not secured a win in the Bolivian highlands, and a historic defeat from the Diego Maradona era still lingered in memory, a 6-1 loss that once left him questioning the feasibility of playing in such conditions. After that match, he acknowledged the difficulty of competing in La Paz at the age of 22.
Another memorable episode occurred in a 1-1 draw during the 2013 qualifiers when Sabella brought oxygen aids for the players. During the Russia 2018 qualifying campaign, Messi did not participate in a match after an incident involving a verbal exchange with an assistant referee in a prior game against Chile, which led to a FIFA suspension. These moments illustrate how altitude interacts with the broader pressures of international football and the heightened scrutiny that accompanies distant venues and high-stakes results.
The remaining four matches of that campaign were split between Quito and Bogotá, with three against Ecuador and one against Colombia. Argentina posted one win, one draw, and two losses, scoring four goals in total. The only victory occurred in Quito at an altitude around 2,800 meters, as the team led by a coach guided Argentina to World Cup qualification with a 3-1 triumph featuring a trio of Messi goals. The draw came in 2013 when Sabella used Messi as a substitute, a rare decision that nonetheless swung toward a favorable outcome. Earlier encounters included a 2-0 defeat in 2009, and a 2-1 win in Bogotá in 2007 under Basile, marking Argentina’s first foray into the altitude experience with Messi wearing the No. 10 shirt and contributing to the scoreline in his early career.
All Messi’s documented matches for the Argentina national team in altitude contexts include the following: Colombia 2-1 Argentina in Bogota on November 20, 2007; Bolivia 6-1 Argentina in La Paz on April 1, 2009; Ecuador 2-0 Argentina in Quito on October 6, 2009; Bolivia 1-1 Argentina in La Paz on March 26, 2013; Ecuador 1-1 Argentina in Quito on November 6, 2013; Ecuador 1-3 Argentina in Quito on October 10, 2017; and Bolivia 1-2 Argentina in La Paz on October 13, 2020. These results illustrate a pattern where altitude often tests the team’s consistency and adaptability across different phases of the competitive cycle.
Will Messi, now with MLS duties, impact the all-time goal tally against Cristiano Ronaldo?
Recent discussions about Messi’s trajectory continue to captivate fans as the player adapts to a new league and its style of play. The debate often centers on how a move to MLS might influence goalscoring patterns relative to Cristiano Ronaldo, who has remained a prolific competitor across leagues. Though the landscape has shifted with transfers and evolving competition, Messi remains a central figure in discussions about longevity and continued effectiveness at the highest levels.
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