Lionel Messi played a memorable match at the Monumental de Núñez. Facing Venezuela, he found the net twice and waved goodbye to official games with Argentina on home soil. He was brilliant as usual, yet he also left a cloud of uncertainty. At 38, he wouldn’t say for sure if he’ll make it to the 2026 World Cup.
“I don’t believe I’ll play another World Cup, the most logical thing is that I won’t make it, but here we are, I’m hopeful and motivated, but it’s day by day, game by game,” he admitted afterward.
Farewell in front of the fans
When Messi came out to warm up, you could already see how emotional he was. During the anthem, the tears showed up. With his kids walking alongside him and Antonella watching from the stands, the weight of the night hit him. He knew this was his last official appearance with Argentina in front of his own crowd. On the pitch, though, he answered in the way only he can. The first goal came from a clever ball by Julián Álvarez, which he finished with a smooth chip. The second arrived off a cross from Thiago Almada. Each time the net moved, the Monumental erupted as if it were a final.
Even with all that celebration, his tone afterward was careful. Messi talked about the need to feel physically right and made clear he won’t force things. “It’s clear that today was the last one with points at stake here, but it’s day by day, trying to feel good and above all being honest with myself. If I feel good, I enjoy it. If I feel bad, I’d rather not be there.”
That honesty sums up the challenge. He’s closing in on 39, the age he’ll be when the next World Cup kicks off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The legacy is already secured
When it was all over, he turned to the fans to say thank you and looked back on what he’s lived. “A lot has happened, being able to finish this way here was what I always dreamed of. Being able to celebrate with my people.”
This farewell at home shuts one door and opens another full of questions. Whether or not Messi plays in 2026 remains up in the air. But one thing isn’t: his story with Argentina is already written, and it will stay with the game forever.