On Thursday, Argentina defeated Venezuela 3–0 in Buenos Aires on Matchday 17 of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America. The night’s biggest star was Lionel Messi, who scored a brace and later spoke about the reality that his time with the national team is nearing its end.
“I feel a lot of things, a lot of emotions, knowing it was the last official match here,” the forward said in a postgame interview on the field at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. “I’ve experienced a lot in this stadium—some good moments, and some not so good. It’s always a joy to play in front of our people, especially after winning titles. For many years now, we’ve been enjoying every match. I’m very happy.”
It was a special night for Messi, who was shown on TV cameras crying during warmups. “I’m not ready for this, and that’s part of what I was feeling when I came onto the field,” Leo admitted. “It’s not something I like, or want, or am looking forward to. But time passes—it’s been many years already.”
* Developing story
