The Argentine national team drew 1-1 with Venezuela, featuring goals from Nicolás Otamendi for the Albiceleste and Salomón Rondón for the Vinotinto during the ninth round of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The match was heavily influenced by the poor condition of the pitch, which suffered from heavy rain leading up to the game at Estadio Monumental de Maturín. This issue was voiced by Lionel Scaloni’s coaching staff and echoed by players, including captain Lionel Messi.
Messi returned to the squad after missing the last FIFA match due to a right ankle injury. Fresh off winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield with Inter Miami, he donned the Albiceleste jersey once more. “It was a long wait to play again. I missed many games at the club, but I am happy to be back, to continue having continuity and to be here again,” Messi shared with reporters after the match.
He also explained his earlier absence, stating, “I hadn’t played yet, I hadn’t trained much. I wasn’t 100% physically yet, not even with my ankle, because it was still bothering me. It’s very normal; we decided that I wasn’t fit, and the best thing was to stay and train to finish getting well.” Additionally, he addressed the pitch’s condition, which was so waterlogged that it hindered ball movement in several areas.
“It is very difficult; the game is very ugly, very tight. We couldn’t string two passes together. It’s challenging to play like this. The game was played very little. The pitch didn’t help us execute our strategy. We had to adapt to a different style of play, focusing on winning second balls, taking advantage of the opponent’s mistakes, and minimizing risks since we couldn’t play backwards. In the first half, we made a few backward passes, and the water stopped the ball, complicating things for us. We ended up playing the type of game the pitch dictated,” Messi explained regarding the match’s flow.
Despite traveling from the U.S. with ample playing time, Messi played the full 90 minutes, showcasing his excellent physical condition. The national team will face Bolivia next on Tuesday, October 15, at 9 PM at the Más Monumental. “I’m very happy to be playing in Argentina again. We have a long trip back, a couple of days to rest, and then prepare for the home game,” Messi said.
Rodrigo De Paul also shared his thoughts post-match, describing it as “a horrible match. Impossible to play. Unfortunately, you have to adapt to the circumstances; it’s not good, but it is what it is, and we couldn’t take the three points.”
He added, “Every game is different. Against Colombia, they played very well, and the heat was a factor. In this case, we couldn’t really play football. We had to chase a lot of second balls, and everything was more contested. We need to keep working to achieve our goal of qualifying for the next World Cup. We must continue growing as a team and show resilience in the face of challenges.”
De Paul also responded to the Argentine players’ gestures during warm-ups and their dissatisfaction with the pitch. “We obey orders and do what we are told. Obviously, the best conditions for us are a good pitch, good weather, and a ball that moves; we don’t ask for much. I think we did well, which is why they impose these difficulties on us as visitors, beyond the footballing ones,” he concluded, reflecting on the delay in the match’s start time.
