Paolo Guerrero, the legendary Peruvian forward, voiced his strong frustration with the officiating during Peru’s recent 1-0 loss to Argentina in the World Cup qualifiers. The match, played at La Bombonera, saw the referee's decisions come under scrutiny, especially in how star player Lionel Messi was treated.

Guerrero didn't hold back in his criticism, focusing on what he perceived as unfair treatment towards his team: "I don't know what analysis you all have or what the diagnosis is for this game, but physically I think we were on par. It's hard when the referee is influencing the game, he keeps putting pressure on us. We were pushed, and not a single foul was called, but the moment you touched Messi with a finger, it was always a foul. No one says it because it's Messi," Guerrero stated.

This is not the first time that rival players have pointed out how Messi’s stature and status can seemingly sway referees when it comes to foul calls. It’s a sentiment shared by others who have experienced the same situation, suggesting that Messi's reputation on the field impacts the way referees officiate his matches.

The loss, coupled with Chile’s win, leaves Peru in a precarious position at the bottom of the 2026 World Cup qualification standings, adding to the pressure the team faces.

On his team's performance, Guerrero was candid about their approach against the World Cup champions: "We didn’t dare to play as much. I know their pressure in midfield is intense, but I think we could have done more. We could have been more daring, we could have played, let the ball run. We could have created more situations because they were very vulnerable when we stole the ball from midfield onward."

Guerrero’s comments reflect his belief that, despite facing the formidable Argentine team, Peru had opportunities to be more assertive and take greater risks in the game, which might have changed the outcome.