In what is expected to be his final competitive match on home soil, an emotional Lionel Messi scored two goals to lead Argentina to a 3-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Venezuela.
The night was marked by moving scenes at the Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires, where Messi was joined by his three sons and received a standing ovation from a crowd of 80,000 fans.
Lautaro Martinez also scored for Argentina, who have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. After the match, Messi said the affectionate reception from his home country was “what I always dreamed of.”
He remains undecided on his future, stating he has not yet made a decision about playing in the World Cup.
