Lionel Messi and Argentina will be fighting for their lves on Tuesday as the South American heavyweights take on Ecuador aiming to avoid a humiliating failure to qualify for next year's finals in Russia.
The eyes of the Football World will turn to Quito's Estadio Olimpico Atahaulpa to see if the once unthinkable prospect of a World Cup without Messi is to become a stunning reality.
The two time World Cup winners head into the final round of South American qualifiers in sixth place,outside the top four positions which grant automatic qualification and trailing fifth place Peru who occupy the Play off spot,on goal difference.
Yet with only two points separating the third place Chile(26 points) with seventh place Paraguay with 24,any number of permutations are possible.Â
Argentina can simplify the equation for their nervous fans, however,if they take all points in Quito on Tuesday.
A victory would guarantee they finish no worse than fifth place,putting them into a two-legged-play off against New Zealand they would be expected to win.
But winning in the thin air of Quito which is 2,850 mitres above sea level may be easier said than done.Â
The Argentinians have an abysmal record in away games against Ecuador in Quito with their last victory coming in 2001.
Since then in World Cup qualifying games they have been beaten twice in 2005 and 2009,before scraping a 1-1 draw in 2013.
Barcelona Star Messi also has a record of struggling in games at altitude,vomiting on the pitch during a draw in the rarefied air of Bolvia four years ago.
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