Lionel Messi struck twice as Argentina defeated Venezuela 3-0 in what could be his final competitive match on home soil. The 38-year-old captain entered the Monumental Stadium hand in hand with his children, greeted by thunderous applause from more than 80,000 fans. Visibly emotional, Messi wiped away tears during the pre-match lineup, with supporters treating the night as a potential farewell.
While Messi has not disclosed his retirement plans, he confirmed this would be his last World Cup qualifier in Argentina. With their spot at next year’s tournament in North America already secured, the reigning world champions controlled the game from the outset, testing Venezuelan goalkeeper Rafael Romo through early efforts from Nicolas Tagliafico and Franco Mastantuono.
The breakthrough arrived in the 39th minute when Julian Alvarez burst into the box and unselfishly squared the ball across goal. Messi, perfectly positioned, tapped in with his left foot, sending the stadium into raptures. The crowd erupted with chants and flags, savoring a goal that carried the weight of history and the feeling of a goodbye.
