In what he described as his final World Cup qualifier on home soil, Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass for Argentina, scoring twice to secure a 3–0 triumph over Venezuela at the Monumental Stadium.
The 38-year-old football legend opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a sleek finish from Julian Alvarez’s pass. Argentina added a second through Lautaro Martínez in the 76th minute before Messi sealed the win four minutes later, assisted by Thiago Almada.
Already assured of a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Argentina lead the South American qualifiers table with 38 points and now prepare for their final group match against Ecuador.
Elsewhere, Paraguay and Colombia have also secured qualification. Paraguay booked their place with a draw against Ecuador—marking their first World Cup appearance since 2010—while Colombia coasted past Bolivia 3–0 with goals from James Rodríguez, Jhon Córdoba, and Juan Fernando Quintero.
