Messi’s numbers vs. Venezuela: goals, assists and positive balance :: Olé

10/10/2024 11:04hs.

He comes back. 10. The captain. The banner. The champion. The champion of America. The one who played the most. The one who scored the most goals. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. In this double date of the South American Qualifiers, Lionel Messi will have his long-awaited return to the Argentine National Teamafter his absence against Chile and Colombia due to recovering from his ankle injury. In Maturín, Against Venezuela, Leo will have the chance to deploy his entire repertoire against an opponent that suits him well.

Messi vs. Venezuela: from the defeat in Madrid to the victory in La Bombonera

Messi’s statistics against Vinotinto are notable. Throughout his career, The Argentine captain has played 11 games against Venezuelawith a highly favorable balance: 8 wins, 2 losses and a draw. Furthermore, it has marked 5 goals and provided 6 assistsbeing a key factor every time they face each other.

Messi’s history against Venezuela began in 2007when he scored his first goal in the Qualifiers in a 2-0 victory in Maracaibo. This would be the first of several goals against Vinotinto, including one in the 4-0 win in 2009 under the command of Diego Maradona and another in the 3-0 win in 2013 in the Alejandro Sabella Era. One of the most memorable moments was his goal in the 4-1 victory in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Copa América Centenario.

The last meeting between Messi and Venezuela was in March 2022at the close of the Qualifiers towards the Qatar World Cup, when won 3-0 in La Bombonera. Messi sealed the victory with the third goal, breaking a streak of four games without scoring against Vinotinto.

The defeat in Madrid, one of the hardest of the Scaloni cycle. (FTP Clarín – Maxi Failla)

There were turbulent times too, of course. For example, the 1-0 loss in Puerto de la Cruz, at the start of the Qualifiers on the way to Brazil 2014. They also suffered a 1-1 loss in La Bombonera, at the close of the Qualifiers for Russia 2018, which left the National Team on the edge of the abyss. And not to mention the 3-1 defeat at the Metropolitano in Madrid, which meant a turning point in Lionel Scaloni’s cycle.

Now, the return of the 10 to the National Team is an injection of confidence for the Scaloneta. After the defeat against Chile and the painful fall against Colombia, Messi’s return could be crucial for Argentina to acquire the six points of this double FIFA date and direct its qualification to the United States--Canada 2026. Facing an opponent he knows well and against whom he has shone on numerous occasions, the Argentine star will seek to continue adding to his extensive collection of international successes.

In the Qualifiers to Qatar, Leo took six out of six. (AFP)

The 11 matches of Messi vs. Venezuela

  1. 10/17/2007: Venezuela 0 – Argentina 2 (2010 South American Qualifiers) – 1 goal
  2. 03/28/2009: Argentina 4 – Venezuela 0 (2010 South American Qualifiers) – 1 goal
  3. 09/02/2011: Venezuela 0 – Argentina 1 (International Friendly)
  4. 10/12/2011: Venezuela 1 – Argentina 0 (South American Qualifiers 2014)
  5. 03/23/2013: Argentina 3 – Venezuela 0 (South American Qualifiers 2014) – 1 goal
  6. 06/19/2016: Argentina 4 – Venezuela 1 (Copa América 2016) – 1 goal
  7. 09/06/2017: Argentina 1 – Venezuela 1 (South American Qualifiers 2018)
  8. 03/22/2019: Argentina 1 – Venezuela 3 (International Friendly)
  9. 06/28/2019: Argentina 2 – Venezuela 0 (Copa América 2019)
  10. 09/02/2021: Venezuela 1 – Argentina 3 (South American Qualifiers 2022)
  11. 03/25/2022: Argentina 3 – Venezuela 0 (South American Qualifiers 2022) – 1 goal
Leo, at the entrance to the Bombonera, in the last Argentina-Venezuela. (AFP)Leo, at the entrance to the Bombonera, in the last Argentina-Venezuela. (AFP)
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