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In an abrupt, shocking announcement following the 2016 Copa America final loss to Chile, Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team, but he actually never missed a game. He returned in September of 2016 with only one goal in mind: Get his team to the 2018 World Cup and win it. 

His chances of lifting that coveted trophy are getting slimmer after Argentina's World Cup qualifying campaign took a massive hit on Thursday as the team failed to beat up-and-comers Peru at La Bombonera, drawing 0-0. The result leaves Argentina in sixth place in the CONMEBOL standings. Fifth place plays a two-game playoff, while the top four automatically advanced.

It was a match where Argentina had chances at home -- they hit the post and produced some creative moments -- but once again the team was too reliant on Messi and were more than poor in attack, a constant theme for Albiceleste side. Through 17 matches, a country with players like Messi, Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero to name a few have 16 goals and now a nightmare scenario is suddenly creeping closer to reality.

Argentina can still reach the World Cup, but it has to get something from its final qualifying match on Tuesday at Ecuador -- a place it hasn't won in qualifying since August of 2001. It's going to be a tough task for Messi and company.

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