Lionel Messi capped a memorable night with two goals as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 win over Venezuela. Check out the player ratings for Argentina’s dominant World Cup qualifier performance.
Argentina Player Ratings vs Venezuela: Messi’s Brace Leads Albiceleste to 3-0 Victory in Emotional Home Game
Argentina brushed aside Venezuela 3-0 in what could be Lionel Messi’s last competitive match on home soil. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored twice, and Lautaro Martínez added a third to secure the comfortable win. With this victory, Argentina further solidified their position in World Cup qualifying, but the night was all about Messi’s brilliant performance.
Goalkeeper & Defence
Emiliano Martínez (7/10):
A quiet night for the Aston Villa goalkeeper, who only touched the ball 25 times and was never seriously tested. He will be happy with the clean sheet, which he had little involvement in.
Nahuel Molina (6/10):
Solid defensively, Molina didn’t allow much down his flank and contributed with a few intelligent passes forward.
Cristian Romero (8/10):
A typically combative performance from Romero, who was rock-solid in defence. He won nearly every tackle he attempted and helped keep Venezuela’s attack at bay. The yellow card was almost a given!
Nicolas Otamendi (7/10):
At 37, Otamendi showed no signs of slowing down, putting in another reliable performance at the heart of defence. His leadership was crucial in keeping the backline organized.
Nicolas Tagliafico (7/10):
A busy night for Tagliafico, who was involved both in defence and attack. He linked up well with Thiago Almada and showed his usual work rate on the left.
Midfield
Rodrigo De Paul (7/10):
De Paul was his usual self, tirelessly working in the midfield, completing the most passes in the match, and breaking up Venezuela’s play.
Leandro Paredes (7/10):
Paredes played a key role in the build-up to Messi’s opener, providing the crucial pass and showing his usual composure in the middle.
Franco Mastantuono (5/10):
A bit of a mixed performance from Mastantuono, who was involved in plenty of the ball but seemed a little nervous at times and didn’t always make the most of possession.
Thiago Almada (8/10):
Almada was Argentina’s most creative player on the day. He came close to scoring, forcing a fine save from Venezuela’s goalkeeper, and contributed an assist for Lautaro Martinez.
Attack
Lionel Messi (9/10):
A night to remember for Messi, who scored twice in his potential last home game for Argentina. His first goal was a thing of beauty, and his second capped off a wonderful team move. A true masterclass from the captain.
Julian Alvarez (7/10):
Alvarez worked hard as the forward link-up man, laying on a brilliant assist for Messi’s opener and showing positive intent. A strong showing despite not getting on the scoresheet.
Subs & Manager
Nico Gonzalez (7/10):
Gonzalez played a key role in the final stages, picking up an assist for Messi’s second goal, and was lively in his brief appearance.
Exequiel Palacios (6/10):
Palacios was solid after coming on, keeping the midfield ticking over.
Lautaro Martinez (7/10):
Martinez scored with a smart finish and offered good movement in attack, although he didn’t see much of the ball.
Giuliano Simeone (N/A):
No time to make an impact.
Nico Paz (N/A):
No time to make an impact.
Lionel Scaloni (8/10):
Scaloni set his side up perfectly for this match, and the team responded well. He made the right calls with substitutions and saw his players carry out the game plan effectively, earning another solid win in CONMEBOL qualifying.
What’s Next for Argentina?
Argentina remains firmly on track in World Cup qualification, and with Messi playing in top form, they are in excellent shape for the upcoming fixtures. While Messi’s potential departure from Argentina’s home competitive fixtures remains uncertain, his legacy continues to shine brightly for the Albiceleste.
