Lionel Messi has matched long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally of 36 World Cup Qualifier goals after scoring twice in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Venezuela on Friday.
The Inter Miami star struck in the 39th and 80th minutes, while Lautaro Martínez added the third to seal the win at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Messi and Ronaldo now jointly occupy second place on the all-time World Cup Qualifiers scoring chart, trailing only Carlos Ruiz of Guatemala, who leads with 39 goals.
The 38-year-old captain received thunderous applause as he walked onto the pitch with his children. Messi recently hinted that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be his last tournament before retirement.
Over the course of his career, the Argentine has lifted 46 trophies, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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