While Argentina secured their 2026 FIFA World Cup berth long ago, Matchday 17 against Venezuela carried special significance. Lionel Messi played his final CONMEBOL Qualifier on home soil, dazzling fans with an impressive brace, his first national team goals in 2025. Comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo‘s scoring exploits for Portugal during this period naturally arise, underscoring the enduring rivalry between these two soccer stars.

After missing Argentina‘s first two games in 2025 and failing to score in the previous doubleheader, Lionel Messi has managed to net only two goals with the national team, courtesy of his brace against Venezuela. While this may seem minimal, he has just regained the physical consistency that allowed him to shine in Lionel Scaloni’s team.

Cristiano Ronaldo, me

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