Lionel Messi shirts BANNED from stadium as Argentina lose to Paraguay – here's why

Clubs and countries have tried many ways over the years to reduce the influence Lionel Messi can have on a football match.

Triple mark him, foul him, rough him up - but no one has quite cracked the code. Paraguay, though, took their thinking outside the box to halt the greatest player of all time in his tracks. And it seems to have worked.

Messi fired a blank and had multiple arguments with the referees as the Paraguayans stunned Argentina with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory in the South American FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on Thursday night. Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez gave the visitors the lead with a goal in the 11th minute but Paraguay equalised with a stunning Antonio Sanabria bicycle kick before Omar Alderete sealed the victory.

How big Messi’s impact is can be gauged from the fact that Paraguay banned jerseys bearing the Argentina footballer’s name from entering the Estadio Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asunción.

Ahead of the contest, Fernando Villasboa, manager of the Paraguayan Football Federation, announced: "Fans wearing jerseys of the Argentine national team, Barcelona, PSG, or Inter Miami with Lionel Messi's name on the back will not be allowed entry to the stadium. It's not about Messi or any specific player. We respect the careers of all footballers. It's just that the home ground is very important to us."

He added: "We want the Defensores del Chaco to be painted in the colours of the Albirroja to give the players the support they deserve from the stands, as we are all playing this game in our own way.” The Paraguay team coach, Gustavo Alfaro, said he had "no idea" about the rule.

The ban seems, as touched upon by Alfaro, to be related to a genuine fear that local fans will be more inclined to