The numbers are clear: Lionel Messi will play his closing World Cup qualifier on Argentine soil this Thursday, September 4, when Argentina hosts Venezuela at River Plate’s Monumental Stadium for Matchday 17 of the CONMEBOL marketing campaign. After this recreation, there aren’t any confirmed qualifiers within the nation earlier than the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and any remaining fixtures would probably be friendlies.
Whereas neither FIFA nor CONMEBOL has issued an official assertion, it’s extensively anticipated that Argentina, together with Paraguay and Uruguay, won’t must take part in qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup. As co-hosts alongside Spain, Morocco, and Portugal, these nations will likely be mechanically certified for the event’s early phases. This implies Argentina’s subsequent World Cup qualifying match may come as late as 2031, when Messi could be 44 years previous.
For Argentine followers, Thursday’s match will carry a bittersweet feeling. It’s not solely Messi’s potential final aggressive recreation at house however may additionally mark his official farewell to CONMEBOL qualifiers altogether.
Scaloni’s plan to relaxation Messi
TyC Sports activities recommend that head coach Lionel Scaloni is planning to go away Messi out of the squad for the next match towards Ecuador in Guayaquil on September 9. The reasoning is straightforward: Messi has a packed schedule with Inter Miami, and defending his bodily situation is a precedence.
The Florida membership faces an intense stretch of 9 matches in 35 days—primarily one recreation each three to 4 days. Contemplating Messi’s current struggles with muscle points because of the heavy load between nationwide workforce duties and MLS commitments, skipping the journey to Ecuador is smart for all events concerned. As an alternative, he’s anticipated to return on to Miami after dealing with Venezuela.
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Messi’s concentrate on Inter Miami’s objectives
For Messi and Inter Miami, the mission is evident: safe a playoff spot within the MLS Western Convention. Alongside stars like Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez, Messi has 9 regular-season matches left in 2025 to solidify the membership’s place earlier than the November playoffs.
All of Inter Miami’s hopes are pinned on chasing what could be their first-ever nationwide title, a milestone that would ease the sting of their current setbacks—the defeat within the Leagues Cup Last towards the Seattle Sounders and elimination within the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals.
Thursday’s conflict on the Monumental is extra than simply one other qualifier—it’s probably a historic farewell for Lionel Messi on Argentine soil in aggressive worldwide play. For followers, it’s an evening to have fun a legendary profession, whilst Messi seems to be forward to the challenges with Inter Miami and the pursuit of recent milestones within the twilight of his enjoying days.
