Lionel Messi Battled Tears as His Family Joined Him for What Could Be His Last Match in Argentina

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Credit: Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Lionel Messi walked onto the field of the Monumental Stadium knowing that the night carried a weight unlike any other. At 38 years old, the captain of Argentina’s national team had prepared himself for his last official match in his country, and while he had tried to hold onto a smile, the moment overwhelmed him. As he emerged from the tunnel with his teammates and the roar of 65,000 fans rose around him, his eyes filled with tears. He pressed his hand to his chest, a small gesture to steady himself, and for several minutes he fought back emotion before warmup drills finally gave him enough rhythm to regain composure.

A Night of Emotion in Buenos Aires

Messi had spoken of the moment in advance, making clear how much it would mean. “It will be special, a very special match for me because it is the last of the Qualifiers. I do not know if there will be any friendlies or more matches later, but this is a very special match and that is why my family, my wife, my children, my parents and my brothers, everyone who can, will be with me.” Those words set the tone for what was to come, and once he stepped onto the pitch the truth of them unfolded in real time.

Inside the stands, Antonela Roccuzzo watched with their children Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, holding close to the same emotions that rippled through the crowd. Fans thought of the long list of titles that had defined his career: the 2022 World Cup, two Copa Américas, the Finalissima, the 2005 U20 World Cup, and the Olympic gold medal of 2008. Their gratitude mixed with sorrow as the anthem played, and Messi himself faltered halfway through the song, once again overcome by feeling.

On social media, the images became instant touchstones. A supporter wrote, “No one prepared us for this moment we are living. No one taught us how to live without Lionel Andrés Messi. Look how emotional he is. We are losing the greatest we have ever had.” Another added, “Lionel Messi emotional when coming onto the field. So powerful.”

The Road Ahead for Argentina

The farewell in Buenos Aires marks the first step in a larger process that will culminate at the 2026 World Cup. Argentina will travel to Guayaquil for a match against Ecuador on September 9, but Messi will not make the trip. Instead, he will return to Florida to focus on Inter Miami and its demanding push toward the playoffs.

The international calendar leaves little room for pause. FIFA windows in October and November are already booked, with Argentina planning a tour of the United States that will run from October 6 to 14. The schedule includes matches against Venezuela and Puerto Rico, likely in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium and Chicago’s Soldier Field, although those venues remain to be confirmed. In November, the team will head to Luanda in Angola and then Kerala in India, further broadening the reach of the reigning world champions.

Looking Toward the Finalissima and the World Cup

The next opportunity for Messi to appear in an official Argentina shirt could come in March 2026 during the Finalissima, where Copa América champions will meet the winners of the European Championship. The match is scheduled for the FIFA window of March 23 to 31, though the location has not yet been decided. Possible sites under consideration include London, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In the last edition of the tournament in 2022, Argentina defeated Italy 3–0 at Wembley.

As preparations continue, Argentina will also arrange two friendlies between June 1 and 9 of 2026, in line with FIFA’s international match dates. The draw for the expanded World Cup, which for the first time will include 48 teams and 104 matches, is set for December 5, 2025. The tournament will open on June 11 at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca and will end on July 19 in New York.

A Farewell Felt Across a Nation

For Messi, the evening at the Monumental was not the end of his career but the beginning of its final chapter with Argentina. The tears, the ovations, and the sight of his children on the field beside him all reflected the extraordinary place he holds in the lives of his supporters. The match against Venezuela was framed as another qualifier, yet for Argentina it became something larger: the first step toward saying goodbye to the player who defined an era of fútbol and carried a nation’s hopes with him.

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