Argentina faced Venezuela on matchday 17 of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in Buenos Aires. Beyond being a decisive game for the Venezuelans, the night carried extra weight for Lionel Messi and his teammates, who were part of a farewell prepared in his honor. However, what was expected to be a celebratory occasion turned into a tense battle, with the atmosphere pushing past emotional limits.

In what was already an emotional night, Messi, playing his final official match with Argentina on home soil, found himself at the center of a heated confrontation. Tensions boiled over when he clashed with Tomas Rincon, the veteran Venezuela midfielder, in the tunnel leading to the locker rooms at Mas Monumental.

Referee Piero Maza of Chile blew the halftime whistle with Argentina holding a narrow lea

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