Inter Miami striker Leo Messi will play his last home game in a World Cup qualifier when Argentina’s national team takes on Venezuela on September 4 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, according to the Albiceleste captain himself.
In an interview with Apple TV at the end of the Leagues Cup semifinal match, in which, thanks to his great performance, the Florida side beat Orlando City 3-1 on Wednesday to advance to the final of the competition, Messi said that next week’s match will be his last home game in a World Cup qualifier.
“Yes, it’s going to be special, it’s going to be a very special game for me because it’s the last qualifier. I don’t know if there will be friendlies or more matches afterwards,” said ‘La Pulga’, closing the debate generated in recent times about whether the 2026 World Cup will be his last World Cup and, therefore, Thursday’s game will be his last in South American qualifiers.
Argentina, leader in the standings with 35 points, ten more than Ecuador and Brazil, with 25 points each, secured their presence in the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada a few months ago, so they can look forward to their last two matches -against Venezuela and Ecuador- with the utmost peace of mind.
In this context, next Thursday’s match in Buenos Aires will be full of emotion, since, as the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) player himself indicated, his entire family will be with him on such a special day.
“My family will be with me, my wife, my children, my parents. We are going to live it that way. I don’t know what will happen afterwards, but we are going with that intention,” he said.
Messi, winner with the ‘Scaloneta’ of two Copa América (2021 and 2024) and the Finalissima 2022, in addition to the 2022 World Cup, is part of Lionel Scaloni’s call-up for the last two matches of the Albiceleste in these qualifiers: against Venezuela, on September 4 and Ecuador, on September 9.
Winner of seven editions of the Ballon d’Or and of countless titles with Barcelona, including three Champions League titles, and with PSG, his definitive consecration came on December 18, 2022 when he lifted, as captain, the World Cup in Qatar, which meant the third World Cup for Argentina, after 1978 and 1986, according to information from EFE.
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