Leo Messi marked his final World Cup qualifier on Argentine soil with a vintage performance, scoring twice as Argentina defeated Venezuela 3-0 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
The 38-year-old captain, who lifted the World Cup in 2022, broke the CONMEBOL all-time scoring record on the night, further cementing his legacy as one of football’s greatest icons.
Leo Messi arrived at the stadium with his family, visibly emotional as fans filled the air with chants in his honour. The atmosphere intensified when he broke down in tears during the national anthem, underscoring the significance of the moment for both the player and his country.
🚨🇦🇷 MESSI OPENS THE SCORING FOR ARGENTINA! ✨pic.twitter.com/6Hezzm3MLN
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) September 5, 2025
Coach Lionel Scaloni, who confirmed Messi would travel for Argentina’s next fixture, described the match as “a special occasion,” adding that no words could capture Leo Messi’s contribution to Argentine and world football.
Argentina, already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, celebrated both the victory and Leo Messi’s farewell in front of a home crowd, with tributes pouring in from fans and teammates alike.
The match is widely seen as the closing chapter of Messi’s legendary international career on home soil, though he is expected to feature in upcoming away fixtures leading to the World Cup.
Leo Messi after the match said
“Same as I said before about the World Cup that I don’t think I’ll play another…Because of my age, the most logical thing is that I won’t make it. But well, we’re almost there so I’m excited and motivated to play it. Like I always say, I go day by day, match by match. That’s it taking it day by day, going by how I feel. “Day by day trying to feel good and above all, being honest with myself. When I feel good, I enjoy it, but when I don’t, honestly, I don’t have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don’t feel good. So we’ll see. I haven’t made a decision about the World Cup. “Match by match, I’ll finish the season, then I’ll have preseason, and there will be six months left. So we’ll see how I feel. Hopefully I’ll have a good preseason in 2026 and finish this MLS season well and then I’ll decide.”
Source – My News Ghana
About the Author
