Lionel Messi gave Argentina fans the parting memory they had hoped for. In what is expected to be his final World Cup qualifier on home soil, the 37-year-old captain scored twice in a 3–0 win over Venezuela at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental, a night charged with emotion and noise from a sellout crowd.
“Being able to finish this way here is what I’ve always dreamed of,” Messi said afterward. “I’ve lived a lot of moments on this pitch—some good, some not so good—but it has always been a joy.”
Messi struck in the 39th and 80th minutes, sandwiching a Lautaro Martínez goal in the 76th, pushing his tally in South American World Cup qualifiers to a record 36. His closest challenger, former Uruguay striker Luis Suárez, stopped at 29 before retiring from international duty.
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The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has kept the timing of his retirement a mystery. He hinted only that his presence at next year’s World Cup will depend on how his body feels: “It’s day by day, feeling the sensations. If I feel good, I enjoy it; if not, I’d rather not be there.”
Already qualified, Argentina stretched their total to 38 points, locked in as the top finisher in South America regardless of the last round. Venezuela, chasing its first World Cup appearance, stands seventh on 18 points and still has a playoff lifeline.