Buenos Aires, September 5 (Kiran News) — Lionel Messi struck twice to guide Argentina to a commanding 3-0 win over Venezuela in their final home fixture of the World Cup qualifiers on Thursday (Friday IST).
The 38-year-old captain, who has hinted this would be his last home World Cup qualifier, delivered a memorable performance in front of the Argentine fans.
Already qualified for next year’s FIFA World Cup in North America, defending champions Argentina dominated the contest from the start. Early chances from Nicolás Tagliafico and Franco Mastantuono were denied by Venezuela goalkeeper Rafael Romo.
Messi broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, finishing off a quick counter-attack from Julián Álvarez’s pass. The hosts doubled their lead in the 76th minute when Lautaro Martínez scored with a diving header from Nico González’s cross. Just four minutes later, Thiago Almada set up Messi for his second goal of the night, sealing the 3-0 win.
With this result, Argentina remain on top of the South American qualifying table with 38 points. They will play their final group match against Ecuador on Tuesday.
Venezuela, meanwhile, will look to keep their qualification hopes alive when they host Colombia.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
