How Messi is shaping up for a historic outing with Argentina 🇦🇷 | OneFootball

LIONEL MESSI will face a different situation this Thursday with the Argentine National Team against Venezuela, which could be his last official match in the country wearing that jersey.

In front of a packed Monumental, the number 10 will strive to give his best performance even though qualification has long been secured. He is also preparing to experience it in a very special way, as he acknowledged: “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 friendlies or more matches after, but it’s definitely a very special match.”

“That’s why my family will be there with me: my wife, my children, my parents, my siblings, and everyone who can come. We’re going to experience it that way. After that, I don’t know what will happen, but that’s our intention.” he concluded.

After some physically challenging weeks, in which he had to pace himself and sit out some matches to balance the strain from muscle discomfort that nearly led to a tear, the wounds may now be more emotional after the devastating defeat in the Leagues Cup final, where Inter Miami lost 3-0 to Seattle Sounders.

It wasn’t his or the team’s best performance, but such a blow, which he accepted with dignity without getting involved in the scuffle at the end and watching the opponent’s celebration with the runner-up medal on his chest, could serve as fuel to boost his winning spirit, which remains undiminished even at 38 years old and in the final stage of his career.

On the contrary: just around the corner is the last and greatest goal, the one he slowly and almost unintentionally reached: defending the World Cup title at the 2026 World Cup.

From now on, with the final of that tournament in his sights, the slow, triumphant farewell of Messi from the National Team would begin.

Even though Sunday’s result wasn’t what was hoped for, Messi played the full ninety minutes and showed no signs of injury, so it’s certain that he will start and play the entire match in Núñez.

The outlook could be different for the next match, at the Estadio Monumental in Guayaquil against La Tricolor, on Tuesday the 9th, where perhaps La Pulga will at least start on the bench.

For now, the fans lucky enough to fill the Monumental in 72 hours are preparing for a true celebration that could be forever etched in the vast footballing history of the world’s best player.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.