{"id":66295,"date":"2025-08-28T16:49:20","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T19:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/messi-set-for-very-special-last-world-cup-qualifier-in-argentina\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T16:49:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T19:49:20","slug":"messi-set-for-very-special-last-world-cup-qualifier-in-argentina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/messi-set-for-very-special-last-world-cup-qualifier-in-argentina\/","title":{"rendered":"Messi set for ‘very special’ last World Cup qualifier in Argentina"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Aug 28, 2025, 03:43 PM ET<\/span><\/div>\n

Lionel Messi<\/a> has not yet announced when he plans to retire, but he knows that next week’s match against Venezuela<\/a> could be his last one playing at home in a World Cup qualifier with Argentina<\/a>‘s national team.<\/p>\n

“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 progressed to the Leagues Cup final by beating Orlando City.<\/p>\n

Argentina, with a spot already secured in next year’s World Cup, will host Venezuela next Thursday at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires for the penultimate round of South American qualifiers. Its last match will be at Ecuador<\/a> on Sept. 9.<\/p>\n

– Messi: I ‘played with fear’ in semifinal win<\/a>
– Messi’s magic fires Miami into Leagues Cup final<\/a>
– Messi tracker: All goals, assists, key moments for Miami in 2025<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Messi has hinted that he will retire from the national team after next year’s World Cup, where Argentina is going to defend the title they won in Qatar<\/a> 2022.<\/p>\n

The qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup will begin in 2027, when the soccer star will be 40 years old.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n