Messi says goodbye: Last qualifying match in Argentina

Lionel Messi prepares for a transcendental encounter. The Argentine star, still without announcing his retirement date, anticipates that the next match against Venezuela could be his last home appearance in a World Cup qualifier with the Argentine national team.

It’s going to be a very, very special match for me because it’s the last qualifying match.

Lionel Messi

Argentina, already qualified for next year’s World Cup, will receive Venezuela next Thursday at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, in the penultimate matchday of the South American qualifiers. The last match will be against Ecuador on September 9th.

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Messi has hinted at his retirement from the national team after next year’s World Cup, where Argentina will defend the title won in Qatar 2022. The qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup will begin in 2027, when the footballer will be 40 years old.

I don’t know if there will be friendlies or more matches after Venezuela, but it’s a very special match, so my family will be there with me: my wife, my children, my parents, my siblings. We are going to experience it like that. I don’t know what will happen afterwards.

Lionel Messi

Following Messi’s statements, CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, posted on social media that “the last dance is coming”, with an image of Messi in the Argentina shirt. Meanwhile, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) seeks to capitalize on Messi’s last home game by raising ticket prices, with the cheapest at $100 and the most expensive at around $500. Messi returned from his latest injury to score two goals on Wednesday and lead Miami to the Leagues Cup final against the Seattle Sounders on Sunday. Then, he acknowledged some initial fear and discomfort, after having struggled with a muscle injury for much of August.

I wanted to be here. When I came back against Galaxy [on August 17th] I felt some discomfort, I didn’t feel comfortable, but I wanted to play the match.

Lionel Messi

It was really important to be here because they are a difficult rival, they had beaten us in the two matches we played against them this year. In the first half I played with a little fear, but then I felt a little more free.