Messi Shines with Brace as Argentina Beat Venezuela 3-0 in Special Qualifier Match

Lionel Messi was full of excitement ahead of what could be his last home match in the World Cup qualifiers. The Argentine superstar arrived at the Estadio Monumental on Friday, accompanied by his entire family, and was visibly emotional when greeted by cheering fans. The warm reception brought tears to his eyes, reflecting how much the occasion meant to him. Messi marked the special day with an outstanding performance, scoring two crucial goals and helping Argentina secure a 3-0 victory over Venezuela. The other goal came from Lautaro Martinez, making it a memorable night for both Messi and the home crowd.

From the moment Messi stepped onto the pitch in Buenos Aires, his enthusiasm and joy were evident. He smiled widely and shared emotional moments with his teammates during the warm-up and the national anthem. The fans’ applause and the thunderous welcome created an electric atmosphere, filling Messi with pride and happiness. At the end of the match, as the stadium lights flashed and fans celebrated, Messi acknowledged the crowd by waving from the sidelines, making the night unforgettable for everyone present.

Ahead of the match, Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni had praised Messi, calling him an invaluable part of the team and expressing hope that the match would become another special memory for the superstar. Messi delivered exactly what his coach hoped for, leading the team with skill, composure, and energy. Argentina dominated the match, holding 77 percent possession and creating 17 shots, nine of which were on target. Venezuela struggled to make an impact, failing to put any of their five shots on goal.

Argentina could have taken the lead very early, in just the fourth minute, when Cristian Romero headed the ball into the net after a cross from Franco Mastantuono. Unfortunately for the home team, the goal was ruled offside. The early pace slowed after 15 minutes, with Venezuela’s goalkeeper Romo making a strong save from Nicolas Tagliafico in the 21st minute. Argentina finally broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when Leandro Paredes capitalized on a loose ball and sent a precise pass to Julián Alvarez, who quickly controlled it. Alvarez then delivered a perfectly timed ball to Messi, who extended his leg, slowed the ball, and chipped it over the goalkeeper into the net, giving Argentina a 1-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Messi continued to look dangerous. Around the 60th minute, he attempted a one-two combination with Rodrigo de Paul, but the Venezuelan goalkeeper blocked his shot. Argentina kept the pressure on, and the second goal came from substitutes Nico Gonzalez and Lautaro Martinez. Martinez scored with a header just moments after coming on, following a cross from Nico. Four minutes later, Messi added his second goal, receiving a pass from Thiago Almada and calmly finishing past multiple defenders. With this, Messi became the top scorer for the Argentina national team, scoring his 114th goal.

Messi nearly scored a hat-trick, but a header in the closing minutes was ruled offside. Despite missing the third goal, the atmosphere of celebration had already reached its peak, as fans cheered and applauded his incredible performance. The match highlighted Messi’s brilliance, his ability to perform under pressure, and the love and respect he continues to receive from fans worldwide. By the end of the evening, Argentina had not only won 3-0 but had also witnessed a truly special and emotional performance from one of football’s greatest legends, marking another unforgettable chapter in Lionel Messi’s storied career.