Thursday, Argentina beat Venezuela 3-0, with two goals from Lionel Messi. This match marked an important moment, as it was Messi’s last home game in the World Cup qualifying series.
Lionel Messi hasn’t said when he plans to retire from soccer, but the 38-year-old star has mentioned that his upcoming game against Venezuela will be his final World Cup qualifying match played in his home country.
First Half Action and Opening Goal
The current World Cup champions, who have secured their spot for next year’s tournament in North America, dominated the game from the very beginning. They created several scoring opportunities with players like Nicolas Tagliafico and Franco Mastantuono, but Venezuela’s goalkeeper, Rafael Romo, made some impressive saves to keep the match scoreless.
Messi put his team ahead in the 39th minute. The Argentine captain took advantage of a fast break, receiving a pass from Julian Alvarez, and skillfully shot the ball into the top-right corner of the goal, giving the opposing goalkeeper no chance to stop it.
Second Half Seals the Victory
Argentina continued to put strong pressure on their opponents in the second half of the match, with Messi being a key player in their offense. They had to wait until the 76th minute to score their second goal, though. Nico Gonzalez crossed the ball from the left side, and Lautaro Martinez scored with a diving header.
Four minutes later, Messi completed a remarkable game by scoring his third goal, with help from Thiago Almada.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
The Argentine national soccer team, known as the Albiceleste, is currently in first place in the South American standings for the 2026 World Cup with 38 points. They are set to play their final match in the qualifying round against Ecuador on Tuesday.
Venezuela aims to stay in the running for the tournament by facing off against Colombia in their upcoming match.
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