<div>Lionel Messi scored the winning goal on his return from a short-lived international retirement on Thursday as Argentina defeated Uruguay to take control of South America's 2018 World Cup qualifying race.<br /><br /><div>Messi had stunned the footballing world in June after vowing to never play for Argentina again following an agonising defeat to Chile in the final of the Copa America Centenario.</div><div><br /></div><div>But that tearful farewell was a distant memory at Mendoza's Estadio Malvinas on Thursday as the Barcelona superstar orchestrated a 1-0 victory over the two-time World Cup winners.</div><div><br /></div><div>Messi, showing no sign of the groin injury which had placed a question mark against his participation, lashed home the winner on 42 minutes, with his low shot taking a wicked deflection to deceive Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera at the near post.</div><div><br /></div><div>Afterwards Messi paid tribute to the rapturous applause he received throughout. In the dying minutes one young fan sprinted onto the pitch and nearly flattened the five-time World Footballer of the Year with a congratulatory hug.</div><div><br /></div><div>Argentina's new coach Edgardo Bauza meanwhile saluted Messi's commitment in returning to play despite his niggling groin problem.</div><div><br /></div><div>The coach hinted Messi may be rested for Argentina's next match, against Venezuela on Tuesday. "If he's not right we won't risk him," Bauza said.</div><div><br /></div><div>Argentina's win came after a superb backs-to-the-wall defensive effort in the second half when they had been reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of young Juventus striker Paulo Dybala just before half-time. Dybala, 22, was escorted from the pitch in tears after the red card.</div><div><br /></div><div>Argentina's win leaves them in first place in South America's marathon round-robin qualifying campaign with 14 points from seven games.</div><div><br /></div><div>Elsewhere on Thursday, there was an impressive win for Brazil over Ecuador in the thin air of Quito, which is situated a dizzying 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) above sea level.</div><div><br /></div><div>Brazil had never won a qualifying game in the Ecuadoran capital before, but two goals from teenage prodigy Gabriel Jesus and a penalty from Neymar handed the five-time world champions a 3-0 victory.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus, the 19-year-old who signed for English side Manchester City from Palmeiras in August, was outstanding, underscoring his status as the brightest talent in Brazilian football.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus won the penalty for the first goal after bursting into the area and drawing a foul from Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez.</div><div><br /></div><div>Neymar duly converted before Jesus doubled Brazil's lead three minutes from time with a sublime flicked finish from Marcelo's low cross to make it 2-0.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus, who like Neymar had played in Brazil's gold medal-winning Olympic football campaign, then added a third in stoppage time with a crisp finish into the top corner.</div><div><br /></div><div>The win left Brazil in fifth place overall in the standings with 12 points from seven games. In other matches on Thursday, Colombia defeated Venezuela 2-0 in their port city stronghold of Barranquilla.<br /><br /></div><div>Results: At La Paz: Bolivia: 2 bt Peru: 0. At Barranquilla: Colombia: 2 bt Venezuela: 0. At Quito: Ecuador: 0 lt to Brazil: 3. At Mendoza: Argentina: 1 bt Uruguay: 0. At Asuncion: Paragu-ay: 2 bt Chile: 1.</div></div>
<div>Lionel Messi scored the winning goal on his return from a short-lived international retirement on Thursday as Argentina defeated Uruguay to take control of South America's 2018 World Cup qualifying race.<br /><br /><div>Messi had stunned the footballing world in June after vowing to never play for Argentina again following an agonising defeat to Chile in the final of the Copa America Centenario.</div><div><br /></div><div>But that tearful farewell was a distant memory at Mendoza's Estadio Malvinas on Thursday as the Barcelona superstar orchestrated a 1-0 victory over the two-time World Cup winners.</div><div><br /></div><div>Messi, showing no sign of the groin injury which had placed a question mark against his participation, lashed home the winner on 42 minutes, with his low shot taking a wicked deflection to deceive Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera at the near post.</div><div><br /></div><div>Afterwards Messi paid tribute to the rapturous applause he received throughout. In the dying minutes one young fan sprinted onto the pitch and nearly flattened the five-time World Footballer of the Year with a congratulatory hug.</div><div><br /></div><div>Argentina's new coach Edgardo Bauza meanwhile saluted Messi's commitment in returning to play despite his niggling groin problem.</div><div><br /></div><div>The coach hinted Messi may be rested for Argentina's next match, against Venezuela on Tuesday. "If he's not right we won't risk him," Bauza said.</div><div><br /></div><div>Argentina's win came after a superb backs-to-the-wall defensive effort in the second half when they had been reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of young Juventus striker Paulo Dybala just before half-time. Dybala, 22, was escorted from the pitch in tears after the red card.</div><div><br /></div><div>Argentina's win leaves them in first place in South America's marathon round-robin qualifying campaign with 14 points from seven games.</div><div><br /></div><div>Elsewhere on Thursday, there was an impressive win for Brazil over Ecuador in the thin air of Quito, which is situated a dizzying 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) above sea level.</div><div><br /></div><div>Brazil had never won a qualifying game in the Ecuadoran capital before, but two goals from teenage prodigy Gabriel Jesus and a penalty from Neymar handed the five-time world champions a 3-0 victory.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus, the 19-year-old who signed for English side Manchester City from Palmeiras in August, was outstanding, underscoring his status as the brightest talent in Brazilian football.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus won the penalty for the first goal after bursting into the area and drawing a foul from Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez.</div><div><br /></div><div>Neymar duly converted before Jesus doubled Brazil's lead three minutes from time with a sublime flicked finish from Marcelo's low cross to make it 2-0.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus, who like Neymar had played in Brazil's gold medal-winning Olympic football campaign, then added a third in stoppage time with a crisp finish into the top corner.</div><div><br /></div><div>The win left Brazil in fifth place overall in the standings with 12 points from seven games. In other matches on Thursday, Colombia defeated Venezuela 2-0 in their port city stronghold of Barranquilla.<br /><br /></div><div>Results: At La Paz: Bolivia: 2 bt Peru: 0. At Barranquilla: Colombia: 2 bt Venezuela: 0. At Quito: Ecuador: 0 lt to Brazil: 3. At Mendoza: Argentina: 1 bt Uruguay: 0. At Asuncion: Paragu-ay: 2 bt Chile: 1.</div></div>