Lionel Messi returned to action for the Argentina national team in its 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture against Venezuela.
Get a report of the Argentina vs. Venezuela 2022 World Cup Qualifying - CONMEBOL football match.
Substitute Angel Di Maria scored a lovely second in 79 minutes when he ran on to a through pass from De Paul and then chipped the ball over three Venezuelan defenders from outside the box. Argentina had already qualified for Qatar before Friday's game and were on top throughout against the last-placed side in the South American qualifying group and the only one of the 10 South American sides never to reach the World Cup finals. Argentina scored twice in three minutes late in the second half, including a curiously mis-hit effort from Lionel Messi, to help cement a 3-0 win over Venezuela in Friday's World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires.
Lionel Messi has struggled this season for Paris Saint-Germain. But he turned in a brilliant performance for Argentina v Venezuela on Friday evening.
I think about that is coming, which is close, Ecuador (on Tuesday). The preparation matches in June and September. The match against Venezuela may be the last game that Messi plays for Argentina in front of his own fans. Messi is 35 in June and could retire from international duty after featuring for Argentina at the Qatar World Cup later this year. The 34-year-old also got on the scoresheet as he scored his sideโs third in a 3-0 win. Lionel Messi was back to his best in a brilliant display for Argentina vs Venezuela on Friday evening. Messi has scored just two goals in 18 Ligue 1 games and has come under heavy criticism since signing for the French giants since last summer.
Messi scored the third in the World Cup qualifier, with Nico Gonzalez and Angel Di Maria also on target at La Bombonera. Please turn off your ad blocking ...
I think about what is coming, which is close, Ecuador (on Tuesday). The preparation matches in June and September." His goal to seal the win came from a glorious chipped pass from Di Maria that found Messi's wonderfully timed run. Some of his passes were just out of this world and reminded us that Messi remains the best playmaker in the business.
Argentina will look to wrap up their run of home CONMEBOL qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup on a winning note when they welcome Venezuela to face them ...
Argentina 1-3 Venezuela Venezuela 1-3 Argentina Argentina vs Venezuela
Argentina put on a show for its fans in its final 2022 World Cup qualifying home match with a dominant 3-0 win over last-place Venezuela, inspired by a ...
17 17 Argentina has the early possession for the entire first minute of the game. He had all the time to deliver a low, driven cross and Gonzalez read it the whole way. Rondon sends the cross from the left, but it's a waist-high cross and Josef Martinez can't get his body squared up and he sends it out. 39th min.: And on the other end of the field, Venezuela nearly replicates the Argentina goal. But the Vinotinto midfield can't keep the ball for long because it's made up of destroyers and not possession-based players. 46th min.: SUB โ Venezuela bring on Jhon Murillo for left back Miguel Navarro, who was on a yellow. 49th min.: Venezuela came out of the locker to challenge, banging bodies and pressuring. 70th min.: YELLOW โ Yangel Herrera clips Messi with the ball long gone, and he goes in the book. Moments later, Di Maria combined on a give-and-go with his PSG teammate Messi to get the Argentina captain his goal and the team's third. Nico Gonzalez netted the breakthrough and super sub Angel Di Maria scored the gem of the lot with a delightful chip that whipped the La Bombonera crowd into a frenzy.