Overview

• Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 39th minute from a Julián Álvarez pass and sealed the result late after Lautaro Martínez made it 2-0, giving Argentina a comfortable 3-0 win in Buenos Aires.
• Television cameras showed Messi in tears during warm-ups, and he walked onto the pitch with his children as his family attended what he has called his last home World Cup qualifier.
• Messi equalled Iván Hurtado’s all-time record for CONMEBOL qualifying appearances at 72 and extended his record qualifying goal tally to 36.
• Already qualified for 2026, Argentina remain top of the standings with 38 points and will close the campaign away to Ecuador on Tuesday.
• Venezuela, still chasing an intercontinental playoff berth, next hosts Colombia as it seeks to keep qualification hopes alive.