Lionel Messi lined up for Argentina against Zambia at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires in an international friendly. The Argentine legend scored his 116th international goal in a 5-0 victory on Tuesday night.
But beyond the scoreline, it was Messi's emotions that captured fans attention. During the pre-match lineup with his teammates, the 38-year-old was seen in tears as chants of his name echoed around the stadium on his home soil. Was this his final home appearance for Argentina?
Coming into the game, Argentina had delivered a below-par performance in their previous match, a 2-1 result against Mauritania. Head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that Messi would start this time, after having come on as a half-time substitute in the earlier fixture.
On the pitch, despite the emotional backdrop, the 38-year-old showed exactly why he is still the heartbeat of this team. Messi set up the opening goal for Julian Alvarez before scoring himself with a stunning individual effort just before half-time.
More importantly, Scaloni had already indicated that this match would play a key role in finalizing Argentina's 26-player squad for the World Cup. "The list of 26 players (for the World Cup), I think we're above the percentage," Scaloni said in the pre-match Press Conference. "We have to start discarding options now based on performance. There is no other option."
This raises the biggest question on every fan's mind: Will Lionel Messi play at the 2026 World Cup? Despite being 38, Messi's performance on Tuesday met all expectations, showing he still has plenty to offer. Before the match, Scaloni also gave fans hope regarding Messi's participation in the title defense.
"The important thing is that he comes and enjoys it," Scaloni said. "That he enjoys being at the World Cup, which in theory would be the last. But I wouldn't dare to say anything - I just want him to enjoy it."
"It's not just Argentines who want to see him - everyone does. They want to see him train, see him play, and that is what we all wish for."
However, Messi's emotional reaction before kickoff has sparked speculation and concern among fans. It could be a strong indication that this might have been his final match on home soil in Argentina.