Overview

• The 38-year-old confirmed the Venezuela match was his last World Cup qualifier on Argentine soil, with tributes and a sellout crowd at the Monumental and his family in attendance.
• Messi struck in the 39th and 80th minutes, with Lautaro Martínez adding a 76th-minute header, and he extended his CONMEBOL qualifying record to 36 goals.
• Argentina, already through to 2026, remain atop South American qualifying on 38 points and will finish the window away to Ecuador on Tuesday.
• Messi said he will not travel for the Ecuador match as he and coach Lionel Scaloni agreed he should rest following the emotionally charged fixture.
• Scaloni praised his captain’s performance and noted Messi finished the game exhausted, underscoring the decision to prioritize recovery in the coming months.