Lionel Messi guided Argentina to victory with a brace in a 3-0 triumph over Venezuela at the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, during a memorable night at the Estadio Monumental—what could be the No. 10’s final home match in World Cup qualifying.
Messi had announced days earlier that this would be his last qualifiers match in Argentina, making the occasion particularly special in Buenos Aires. From the moment he began warming up, the crowd showed their admiration, and Messi was visibly emotional, with tears in his eyes during pre-match drills.
The match unfolded largely as expected, with Argentina dominating possession. Venezuela remained defensively solid, but Messi broke the deadlock in the 39th minute with a brilliant finish following a well-crafted move from Julián Álvarez.
The second half was a near-monologue for Lionel Scaloni’s side, as they controlled the ball and limited Venezuela’s opportunities. In the 76th minute, Lautaro Martínez extended Argentina’s lead, and four minutes later, Messi capped the win with his second goal of the night, closing a dream night for both him and Argentine fans.