Could this be Lionel Messi’s last home game for Argentina as World Cup champs face Bolivia?

Lionel Messi is still one of the current football devices, commanding the type of projector that suits a star that still produces moments worthy of reflections on the regular. At 38, however, Messi slowly collects a list of last before what is probably his last World Cup. One of these could arrive on Thursday when Argentina welcomed Venezuela in Buenos Aires.

The match starts the penultimate qualification cycle of the World Cup in South America, Messi making the trip again for world champions matches this month. Although the hard work of the qualification is already behind them – Argentina reserved its place during the 2026 World Cup in March – it may not be a routine outing for the national team. In fact, it may be Messi’s final competitive match in Argentina.

Legend has not yet announced his retirement and at this stage, he is likely to go through the national team through the World Cup. His plans afterwards, however, are not entirely clear. Messi’s Inter Miami contract expires this year and it is reported that he suggests that he will sign a new agreement that will see him play for the South Florida Club for at least one more season, which could determine his future of a national team. No matter how we look at it, Messi lacks competitive games to play with the national team – Argentina is a potential host for the next COPA America, but it would not be before 2028. The world cup qualification calendar Next Cycle is naturally not yet defined by 2027. Messi.

A commemorative mood is in store on Thursday, although the reflection on Messi’s inheritance is not the only matter of the day. Venezuela will have to fight this difficult battle while hoping to reserve its own place at the World Cup next year, which did it as one of the three teams in competition for a guaranteed place in the tournament in North America.

Here’s what you need to know before connecting.

How to look at Argentina against Bolivia, dimensions

• Date: Thursday September 4 | Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Monumental Estadio – Buenos Aires, Argentina
• TV: Universo | Flow: FUBO (Start watching, save $ 20!), Peacock
• Odds: Argentina -550; Draw +500; Bolivia +1100

Messi’s right to decide when he retires’

The questions about Messi’s future took advantage of this match, and like the player, the head coach of Argentina, Lionel Scaloni, did not offer much in terms of answers.

“Messi always makes the difference, the cracks are like that,” said Scaloni in a recent interview. “Messi has gained the right to decide on his retirement. Let’s take advantage of Messi while we have it.”

Messi Mania is persistent in Argentina, but this week in Buenos Aires, the fans seem to be founded around the player because of his potentially imminent retirement. He was greeted by flocks of fans after leaving a theater for a production of “Rocky”, which is inspired by the 1976 film with Sylvester Stallone and presents his longtime friend Nicolas Vazquez. Messi said that his whole family had made the trip this week, the player saying on stage after the show that it is “not often that my whole family is here in Buenos Aires”.

The player also said that Thursday’s match “will be a very, very special match for me”, creating a sentimental atmosphere throughout the case, even if there is no confirmation in one way or another on what should really be the atmosphere.

Hopes of qualifying the Venezuela World Cup

Although many qualification points for the CONMEBOL World Cup are reserved, there is always a guaranteed place to win and another place in the intercontinental qualifiers. Venezuela is one of the three teams of the mixture alongside Colombia and Bolivia and although a guaranteed place is not out of the question, getting there will be easier to say than to do.

Venezuela is four points behind Colombia, which currently occupies the last guaranteed place and can reserve its place at the World Cup with a victory over Bolivia on Thursday. Visitors will need Colombia to abandon the points And Manage a victory to Argentina to have a blow to overtake Los Cafeteros, but their hopes of the World Cup will not be completely destroyed if it does not happen. They enter the penultimate qualification cycle with an advantage of a point on Bolivia and will have to maintain this lead on Tuesday, when they welcome Colombia and Bolivia welcome to Brazil.

If they manage to get a place during the World Cup, it would be the first time that Venezuela will participate in the competition.