Lionel Messi walked off the Estadio Monumental on Thursday [September 4] night knowing he may never again play a competitive match in Argentina but the Inter Miami star didn’t let the weight of the moment dictate his performance.
The Argentine star helped La Albiceleste defeat Venezuela 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier as he went onto score a brace but this result carried more weight than the scoreline for the Rosario native with the game marking his final qualifying appearance on home soil.
Messi, who first played for Argentina at home in September 2005 against Peru has since turned those nights into rituals of dominance and memory.
Right from his first home goal in 2008 against Uruguay and now capped by Thursday’s brace against La Vinotinto.
He has now left behind 46 appearances across Argentina, recording 37 goals and 20 assists with The Monumental itself hosting 25 of those contests.
What mattered most to Messi, however, was the chance to close this chapter in front of his people.
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“There are so many emotions, I’ve experienced so many things on this field,” Messi said [via ESPN].
“It’s always a joy to play in Argentina with our people. We’ve been enjoying match after match for many years. I’m very happy; being able to finish in this way here is what I always dreamed of.”
What Messi said about playing in 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Messi who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has admitted that his place at the World Cup next year in the United States, Mexico and Canada is not guaranteed.
“Same as I said before about the World Cup that I don’t think I’ll play another. Because of my age, the most logical thing is that I won’t make it,” Messi said.
"But well, we're almost there, so I'm excited and motivated to play it. Like I always say, I go day by day, going by how I feel.
“I’m trying to feel good and, above all, being honest with myself,”
“When I feel good, I enjoy it, but when I don’t, honestly, I don’t have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don’t feel good. So we’ll see. I haven’t made a decision about the World Cup.”
The path toward that decision is defined. Messi will finish the current MLS season, enter preseason with Inter Miami and then measure his condition with six months left before the tournament.
“Hopefully, I’ll have a good preseason in 2026 and finish this MLS season well, and then I’ll decide,”