""Yes, this is a match which Leo has said will be emotional, special, nice because it's true that it's our last qualifying match," an emotional Scaloni told the media. "We have to enjoy it as we've always been saying.""
""More than anyone, I will enjoy it. Having been able to coach him has honestly been a pleasure, and let's hope that fans who go to the stadium will also enjoy it because he truly deserves it. "It will be a nice match. Exciting. I'm sure that it won't be his last game in Argentina, and I say that we'll make sure that if he decides it's the last game, we play another because it's obvious to do that in the right moment and because he deserves it.""
Lionel Messi is expected to play his last Argentina World Cup qualifier at home against Venezuela, with no formal retirement announcement yet. Argentina have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and Messi is widely expected to end his international career after that tournament. Argentina are pursuing a fourth consecutive major title following two Copa America wins and the 2022 World Cup. Coach Lionel Scaloni described coaching Messi as a pleasure, called the Buenos Aires match emotional, and said he hopes fans will enjoy a deserved farewell and that another home send-off can be arranged if needed. Venezuela remain in contention for a first-ever World Cup place, sitting seventh and four points behind sixth-placed Colombia.
Read at Soccer News
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