CONMEBOL WC Qualification: Live scoringer

Argentina cap off Messi's final competitive international home game with a comfortable 3-0 win over Venezuela. The hosts already sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup, yet continued at the CONMEBOL qualifying table's summit with a consummate outing in Buenos Aires. The opener arrived just before the interval, as a beautiful Paredes pass sent Alvarez away on the right. He cut back inside, and unselfishly laid the ball into Messi's path, enabling him to dink over Romo and two sprawling defenders. While Venezuela offered very little going forward, underperforming a 0.32 xG, they did prove tricky to play through. They kept Argentina out until the final 15 minutes. For the second goal, Messi sparked a move into life with a quickly taken free-kick in the middle. Gonzalez crossed, and Lautaro was in the centre to execute a fine diving header. Messi grabbed his brace in the 80th minute, as Almada was slid through the back line effortlessly before pulling the ball back for a tap-in. It could've been three for the 'Atomic Flea', yet his superbly deft lob late on was ruled out for offside. Argentina were deserved winners today against a regimented-in-parts opponent and overperformed a 1.6 xG to get the job done. Their next game is against Ecuador next Wednesday. Venezuela face Colombia next, as their playoff dreams stay alive with a 3-0 Bolivian defeat against the same opponents. Goodbye!

FULL-TIME: ARGENTINA 3-0 VENEZUELA

Soteldo blasts a disappointing free-kick straight into the Argentine wall.