Argentina and Venezuela are going head-to-head in Buenos Aires on Matchday 17 of the World Cup qualifiers. There, Lionel Messi showcased his trademark brilliance by scoring the opener for the hosts with a delicate left-footed touch in the final minutes of the first half.
Despite having secured their spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 long ago, Argentina did not approach Thursday’s match with any signs of complacency. On the contrary, head coach Lionel Scaloni fielded a lineup filled with top stars. Alongside Leo, the starting XI included Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo De Paul, Franco Mastantuono, and Julian Alvarez, among others.
Argentina’s serious approach was evident from the opening minutes. Alvarez had the first clear chance with a powerful shot that was denied by goalkeeper Rafael Romo. Venezuela tried to create opportunities of their own, but they struggled to maintain possession under Argentina’s high pressure.
The opener came in the 39th minute, when Leandro Paredes won the ball in midfield and caught the Venezuelan defense out of shape. A perfectly timed through ball found Alvarez, who drove into the box and squared it to Messi. The 38-year-old forward calmly beat Romo and the defenders on the line to make it 1–0.
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