A Dream Farewell

If there was a perfect way to say goodbye to his people, Messi found it at the Monumental. With his family in the stands and his children walking out with him before kickoff, the captain gave himself a brace and a performance worthy of a legend.

The stadium turned into a festival with banners, drums, and flags in his honor. One of them read: “Thank you for everything, captain,” while in the stands, fans displayed drums spelling out his last name plus the number 10. The night was as symbolic as it was emotional, with Franco Mastantuono making his debut as a starter and Julián Álvarez providing the assist for the first goal.

Tears and Emotion on the Pitch

From the warm-up, Messi couldn’t hold back the tears. His family, watching from the box, shared the emotion as they saw him in what was his last competitive match on Argentine soil.

The crowd also made him feel special. While Venezuela’s national anthem was playing, much of the stadium broke into a chant dedicated to their No. 10: “From the hand of Leo Messi, we’ll all go around together.” The atmosphere felt more like a tribute than just another qualifier.

A Special Permission and a Luxury Guest

Messi wasn’t the only one allowed to walk onto the pitch with his children. Leandro Paredes also took the chance to share that moment with his family, adding to the intimate vibe of the evening.

Meanwhile, the locker room area welcomed an unexpected visitor: Charly García. The legendary Argentine musician took photos with Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and Chiqui Tapia, images that quickly went viral. Before leaving, Charly told Leo: “God bless you,” a phrase that even moved Antonela Roccuzzo.

The Other Side of the Monumental

Outside the stadium, the euphoria had its own flavor. While hundreds of fans tried to find transportation home, stories emerged of taxi fares skyrocketing to five times the normal cost.

Despite those inconveniences, the overall feeling was one of absolute happiness: Argentina had won, Messi had shined, and the Monumental had been the stage for the captain’s last home qualifier.

The Last Show at Home

Beyond the sporting result, the night was marked as a historic event. It was Messi’s symbolic farewell in Argentina during World Cup Qualifiers, with all the meaning that carries for La Albiceleste and for a nation that idolizes him.

According to Infoabe, the King Lionel’s last show was much more than a match: it was an eternal tribute to the jersey and to a career that already belongs to football’s greatest history.