First South American team to secure a place in the 2026 World Cup, Argentina beat Venezuela 3-0 at the Monumental of Núñez, in Buenos Aires, on Thursday night (4), in match for the penultimate round of the qualifiers that marked the farewell of Lionel Messi of official games with the national team.
With a great party of the fans in the stands and the family also present at the stadium, Messi was caught by the cameras quite thrilled in warming before the match and also during the national anthem.
With the ball rolling, the 38 -year -old Argentine star made a difference and was the author of the first goal, by Cavadinha, and the third, completing Thiago Almada’s pass inside the area.
He reached 114 goals with the alviceleste shirt in 194 games, isolating even more as the top scorer of the national team. Come then Gabriel Batistuta, with 55.
Isolated top scorer of the qualifiers, with eight goals, Messi returned to doubt his participation with Argentina in the 2026 World Cup.
“I can’t believe I play another World Cup, the most logical is that I don’t arrive, but we’re there, I’m hopeful and willingly. But it’s day by day, playing the game,” said the Argentine, who will turn 39 in June 2026 during the World Cup in North America.
He added that he will continue to evaluate the future of his career with the selection over the coming months, taking into account his own field performance.
“I want to feel good and, above all, be honest with myself. If I feel good, I enjoy. If I feel bad, I prefer not to be.”
