Lionel Messi To Play His Last World Cup Qualifier In Argentina? 'The Last Dance Is Coming'

Last Updated:September 03, 2025, 11:45 IST

Argentina, with a spot already secured in next year's World Cup, will host Venezuela on Thursday at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

Lionel Messi during a training session ahead of a World Cup 2026 qualifying match against Venezuela. (AP Photo)

Lionel Messi has yet to announce when he will retire, but he acknowledges that next week’s match against Venezuela might be his last World Cup qualifier at home with Argentina’s national team.

“It’s going to be a very, very special match for me because it’s the last qualifying match," the 38-year-old Messi said Wednesday night after Inter Miami advanced to the Leagues Cup final by defeating Orlando City.

Argentina, already qualified for next year’s World Cup, will host Venezuela on Thursday at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires for the second-to-last round of South American qualifiers. The final match will be against Ecuador on September 9.

Messi has hinted that he might retire from the national team after next year’s World Cup, where Argentina will defend the title they won in Qatar 2022.

The qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup will begin in 2027, when the soccer star will be 40 years old.

“I don’t know if there will be friendlies or more matches after (Venezuela), but it is a very special match, so my family will be there with me: my wife, my children, my parents, my siblings," Messi said. “We’re going to live it like that. I don’t know what will happen next."

Following Messi’s statements, CONMEBOL, South American soccer’s governing body, posted on social media that “the last dance is coming," accompanied by a picture of Messi in an Argentina shirt.

Meanwhile, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) is attempting to capitalise on Messi’s last home match by increasing ticket prices, with the cheapest costing $100 and the most expensive around $500.

Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...Read More

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...

Read More

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First Published:

September 03, 2025, 11:45 IST

News sports Lionel Messi To Play His Last World Cup Qualifier In Argentina? 'The Last Dance Is Coming'

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