Argentina 3-0 Venezuela: Lionel Messi scores brace, la Albiceleste pummel La Vinotinto

Lionel Messi scored his 113th and 114th Argentina goals as the long-qualified Albiceleste put another dent in Venezuela’s hopes to reach 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 3-0 win on Thursday.

WATCH — Argentina vs Venezuela full match replay (en Espanol)

Lautaro Martinez also scored in the match, which may well be Messi’s final competitive match on home soil for the 20222 World Cup champions. Argentina’s 38 points in qualifying will not be caught, but that was established well before kickoff.

Venezuela can only qualify for the World Cup via the inter-confederation playoffs, and they’ll have to hold off Bolivia to do so. La Vinotinto will enter Matchday 18 ahead of Bolivia by a single point and a whole lot of goal differential.

Bolivia host Brazil and Venezuela entertain Colombia. Both kickoffs are scheduled for 7:30pm ET Tuesday.

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Argentina vs Venezuela final score: 3-0

Lionel Messi 39', 80', Lautaro Martinez 76'

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How to watch Argentina vs Venezuela live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 7:30 pm ET, Thursday
Venue: Estadio Monumental — Buenos Aires
TV Channel: Universo
Streaming: Watch live

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Lionel Messi brace (goal video)! — Argentina 3-0 Venezuela (80th minute)

Make it 114 goals in an Argentina shirt for Leo Messi.

Thiago Almada is the man doing the work on this one, getting into the box before setting up his captain for a second goal of the night.

Messi's brace moves Argentina to 3-0 lead

Thiago Almada got the Venezuela defense to bite on his charge, freeing up Lionel Messi for his second goal of the match and extending Argentina's lead to 3-0 in the World Cup qualifiers. Tune in on Telemundo Deportes!

Lautaro Martinez goal (video) — Argentina 2-0 Venezuela (76th minute)

Pretty good squad where Lautaro Martinez serves as the super sub.

He lays out to cash in Nico Gonzalez service, doubling la Albiceleste’s advantage, just two minutes after entering the game for Alvarez.

Martinez's diving header doubles Argentina's lead

Lautaro Martinez found a pass from Nicolas Gonzalez with a diving header that squeaked past the keeper to double Argentina's lead against Venezuela in the World Cup qualifiers. Tune in on Telemundo Deportes!

Lionel Messi goal (video) — Argentina 1-0 Venezuela (39th minute)

It could be his final home competitive match as an Argentina player, and Lionel Messi is making sure it includes a goal.

He’s part of the rush and takes a square pass from Julian Alvarez, dinking it over Universidad Católica keeper Rafael Romo for 1-0.

Messi opens scoring for Argentina v. Venezuela

In what could be his last international match in Argentina, Lionel Messi takes a feed from Julian Alvarez and uses some nifty footwork to break his side's deadlock against Venezuela in the World Cup qualifiers.

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CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualification table (as of Sept. 3, 2025)

1. Argentina - 35 points (+19 GD) — QUALIFIED
2. Ecuador - 25 points (+8 GD)* — QUALIFIED
3. Brazil - 25 points (+5 GD) — QUALIFIED
4. Uruguay - 24 points (+7 GD)
5. Paraguay - 24 points (+4 GD)
6. Colombia - 22 points (+4 GD)
7. Venezuela - 18 points (-4 GD)
8. Bolivia - 17 points (-16 GD)
9. Peru - 12 points (-11 GD)

10. Chile - 10 points (-15 GD)

    *Three points were deducted from Ecuador’s total prior to the start of qualification for using a player whose legal passport contained false information.

Argentina team news, focus

OUT: Enzo Martinez (suspension), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Facundo Medina (ankle)

Venezuela team news, focus

OUT: David Martinez (shoulder), Jose Andres Martinez (hand)

Argentina vs Venezuela prediction

Venezuela probably need to win one of their last two games to finish 7th, which means they’re going to need to beat Colombia next Tuesday. Argentina 3-1 Venezuela.