Lionel Messi’s performance with Inter Miami in the most recent Leagues Cup match (two goals to come from behind) was overshadowed by news unrelated to MLS. The Argentine talisman announced at the end of the match that the game with his national team against Venezuela on September 4 will be his last match with the Albiceleste at home
“Yes, it’s going to be special, it’s going to be a very special match for me because it’s the last one of the qualifiers. I don’t know if there will be a friendly or more matches afterwards, but it is a very special match and that’s why my family is going to accompany me: my wife, my children, my parents, my brothers and sisters, and all those who can on my wife’s side, the whole family. We are going to live it that way. Afterwards I don’t know what will happen, but we are going with that intention,” said the 38-year-old who will face Venezuela as Argentina’s captain on the 17th matchday of the South American qualifiers.
Full stop, not the end
However, it is worth noting that this match will not be Messi’s last World Cup qualifier as Scaloni’s side will close their participation in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup against Ecuador. This means that the last 90 minutes that the former Barcelona and PSG player will play in the qualifiers will be against Sebastian Beccacece’s side.
However, this is far from being the end of Lionel Messi’s time with Argentina, as he still has friendly matches pending in November and the Finalissima against Spain scheduled for March 2026
To close, he made clear his happiness after being the star of the Herons’ triumph in the Clasico del Sol: “It was special, it is always special to play a classic. Orlando is a great rival, who has very good players, with a well-worked team, with a coach who has been working for many years in the same way, with the same group. It was a small revenge for us for having lost these two league games, but I was lucky to play the other time in the Leagues Cup against Orlando and win. It’s special.”
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