Argentine Football Suffers Surprise Defeat in World Cup Qualifiers; Messi's Game Marred by Controversies

In a shocking turn of events, the Argentine national team suffered their third consecutive loss in the World Cup qualifiers, falling to Paraguay with a score of 2-1 at Estadio Defensores del Chaco. Lautaro Martinez had given Argentina an early lead, but Antonio Sanabria equalized before Alderete's second-half goal sealed the win for Paraguay.

The match was underwhelming for star player Lionel Messi, who was involved in two notable incidents that sparked controversy. During the game, Messi faced repeated tough tackles from Paraguayan defender Alderete, which led to his expressing frustration to referee Anderson Daronco. When his complaints were ignored, Messi reportedly called the referee a "coward".

The second incident occurred when Messi went to take a corner, and became the target of Paraguayan fans who threw bottles in his direction. The incident sparked significant outrage on social media, with some fans calling Messi a "shi**y dwarf". In response to the backlash, Alderete publicly apologized for the fans' behavior on Instagram.

"I want to apologize on behalf of my country for the unfortunate incident in which someone threw a bottle at you," Alderete wrote. "You are an idol for millions here and around the world... We deeply regret this disrespectful act that does not represent the affection and admiration we feel for you."

The apology has been well-received, with many fans appreciating Alderete's effort to restore goodwill. Despite the loss and controversies surrounding his behavior, Messi remains focused on turning things around as Argentina prepare to face Peru on November 19. With their campaign slipping away, Argentina will need to regroup and refocus if they hope to achieve their goal of qualifying for the World Cup.