Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina defeated Venezuela 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier. The match was a celebration of Messi’s career, with Argentina already qualified for the tournament. Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez also had key plays for Argentina. Argentina remains top of their qualifying group. The game marked Messi’s final competitive home game for Argentina.
Lionel Messi delivered a sensational performance, scoring twice in what was likely his final competitive home game for Argentina, as they defeated Venezuela 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier. The match, played in Buenos Aires, was a celebratory occasion for Argentine fans who came to honor their captain and witness another masterful display from the legendary forward.
Argentina, already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, used the match to fine-tune their squad and give Messi a fitting send-off. Venezuela, meanwhile, had slim hopes of qualifying for their first-ever World Cup, but those dreams were further dashed by Argentina's dominant performance.
The match began with Argentina asserting their dominance. Julian Alvarez came close to opening the scoring early on, receiving a neat pullback pass from Messi and unleashing a powerful shot from the edge of the box. However, Venezuelan goalkeeper Rafael Romo was equal to the task, making a smart save to deny the Manchester City forward.
Argentina continued to press, and Cristian Romero thought he had given his side the lead with a well-timed header at the back post. Unfortunately for the Tottenham defender, the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Despite the setback, Argentina remained patient and continued to probe the Venezuelan defense.
The breakthrough finally came in the 39th minute, courtesy of none other than Lionel Messi. After a series of intricate passes, Messi found himself with space in the middle of the box. With his trademark composure, he delicately chipped the ball over the advancing Romo, sending the crowd into raptures. It was a moment of pure brilliance from the Argentine captain, a fitting way to mark his final competitive appearance on home soil.
Argentina continued to push for more goals after the restart. Thiago Almada, with plenty of time and space, had a chance to extend Argentina's lead, but his volley skewed wide of the near post. Lautaro Martinez eventually found the net in the 76th minute. Nico Gonzalez delivered a teasing low cross into the box, and Martinez, with a stooping header, directed the ball past Romo and into the net, giving Argentina a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Messi then sealed the victory with his second goal of the night just four minutes later. Almada once again provided the assist, sending a low cross into the box. Messi timed his run perfectly and, without breaking stride, guided the ball into the bottom-left corner with a clinical first-time finish. He almost completed his hat-trick, chipping the ball over Romo, only to be denied again by the linesman's flag for offside.
The match also featured a moment of appreciation as Argentina's official account tweeted a video to celebrate Lionel Messi's performance:
Esperá, no te duermas sin emocionarte una vez más
Gracias por estar pic.twitter.com/5YbIvY0GP0
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) September 5, 2025
Argentina remain top of their qualifying group, a commanding 10 points ahead of Brazil. Venezuela, however, remain in seventh place, seven points adrift of Paraguay, who currently occupy the last automatic qualification spot.
Data Debrief: Messi's Dominance
Argentina was determined to give Messi a memorable send-off in what he confirmed would be his final World Cup qualifier at home. He led by example, registering seven of Argentina's 17 attempts (four on target) and contributing 0.75 to their expected goals (xG) tally of 1.6. Venezuela, in contrast, failed to get any of their five shots on target (0.32 xG), with all their attempts coming from long range.
Messi's brace took his tally to eight goals in World Cup qualifying, more than any other player in South America. He also helped Argentina extend their unbeaten streak to six matches.
This victory was a fitting tribute to Messi's illustrious career and his immense contribution to Argentine football. While future competitive matches may occur, this game marked the end of an era for Messi playing in front of his home fans in a World Cup qualifying context.