Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side’s third goal against Venezuela during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side’s third goal against Venezuela during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Argentina’s Nicolas Otamendi congratulates Lionel Messi after he scored his side’s third goal against Venezuela during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi waves at the end of a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Venezuela at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side’s third goal against Venezuela during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Lionel Messi scores twice in an emotional home farewell for Argentina
BUENOS AIRES (AP) 鈥 Lionel Messi made sure he had good memories of playing a home qualifier with Argentina鈥檚 national team for the last time in his illustrious career.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side’s third goal against Venezuela during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
BUENOS AIRES (AP) 鈥 Lionel Messi made sure he had good memories of playing a home qualifier with Argentina鈥檚 national team for the last time in his illustrious career.
Messi scored twice Thursday in Argentina鈥檚 3-0 victory over Venezuela in front of a raucous sellout crowd that had gathered at estadio Monumental to bid him farewell.
鈥淏eing able to finish this way here is what I鈥檝e always dreamed of,鈥 Messi said. 鈥淚鈥檝e experienced a lot of things on this pitch, both good and not so good, but it鈥檚 always a joy to play in Argentina, in front of our fans.鈥
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Messi is yet to give any clues about when he will retire from the top level of the sport. But the qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup will begin in 2027, when he’s 40.
The Argentina captain scored in the 39th and 80th minutes, and Lautaro Martinez added a goal in the 76th.
Messi now has 36 goals in South American World Cup qualifiers and remains as the all-time scoring leader. His Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez has 29 goals in continental qualifying, but he has retired from Uruguay’s national team. Bolivia鈥檚 Marcelo Moreno Martins is third with 22.
Looking ahead, Messi clarified that he will only compete in next year鈥檚 World Cup if he feels physically fit.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited, eager. It鈥檚 day by day, feeling the sensations. If I feel good, I enjoy it; if not, I鈥檇 rather not be there,” he said, adding that the nine months until the tournament kicks off 鈥渋s a long time.鈥
Already qualified, the World Cup champions extended their tally to 38 points and will remain atop the South American qualifying standings regardless of what happens in the last round next Tuesday.
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Venezuela, trying to qualify for its first World Cup, remains on 18 points and in seventh place. They’re still in contention to advance to an intercontinental playoff.
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