Sports Writing (EFE).- Inter Miami forward Leo Messi will play his last home match in World Cup qualifiers when the Argentina national team faces Venezuela on September 4 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, according to the Albiceleste captain himself.
In an interview with Apple TV at the end of the semi-final match of the ‘Leagues Cup’, in which, thanks to their great performance, the Florida team won this Wednesday against Orlando City by 3-1 and secured a place in the final of the competition, Messi said that next week’s 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 match for me because it’s the last qualifying match. I don’t know if there will be friendlies or more matches afterwards,” asserted ‘La Pulga’, closing the debate generated in recent times about whether the 2026 World Cup will be his last and, therefore, Thursday’s match his last appearance in South American qualifiers.
Argentina, leader of the classification, with 35 points, ten more than Ecuador and Brazil, with 25 each, confirmed months ago its presence in the World Cup of the United States, Mexico and Canada, so it lives its last two matches -against Venezuela and Ecuador- with maximum tranquility.
A very emotional last match for Messi
In that context, next Thursday’s match in Buenos Aires will be charged with emotion, since, as the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) footballer himself indicated, his entire family will be with him on such a special day.
Fotografía de archivo del capitán de la selección de Argentina, Lionel Messi, durante un partido contra Venezuela por las eliminatorias al Mundial 2026. EFE/Ronald Peña R.
“My family, my wife, my children, my parents will accompany me. We are going to experience it that way. After that, I don’t know what will happen, but we are going with that intention,” he affirmed.
Messi, winner with the ‘Scaloneta’ of two Copa América (2021 and 2024) and the Finalissima 2022, as well as 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 the 9th.
