Lionel Scaloni didn’t hold anything back in what felt like a farewell night at La Bombonera. Argentina rolled past Zambia in a dominant performance that may have marked Lionel Messi’s final appearance on home soil for the national team.

Messi, wearing the captain’s armband for Argentina national football team, played the full 90 minutes in the second friendly against the African side. And as always, he delivered. His performance had the energy and magic Argentine fans have come to expect every time he steps onto the field at home.

A night of joy, and uncertainty

He scored, because of course he did. But despite Argentina’s emphatic win, the night carried a bittersweet edge, with a sense that something bigger might be coming to an end.

There is growing concern that Messi may have just played his final minutes for Argentina in his home country. At 38, he continues to add to his legendary international career, but time is no longer on his side. The countdown toward his eventual goodbye has undeniably begun.

Argentine media captured the mood. TyC Sports pointed to a “stunning goal and a telling silence on what could have been his last time in the country.” Newspaper Olé described it as a “top-level farewell with a World Cup decision still pending,” highlighting the lingering uncertainty over Messi’s plans. Meanwhile, La Nación called him “the eternal magnet, the captain who once again drew everyone in on what may have been his final night at home.”

Will Messi play for Argentina at World Cup 2026?

In recent days, Scaloni has made it clear that the decision rests entirely with Messi. That includes not only his participation in World Cup 2026, but his broader future with the national team.

Now starring for Inter Miami, Messi has already achieved everything there is to win with Argentina. But beyond trophies, his legacy runs deeper. Over the years, he has planted something lasting in the hearts of Argentine fans and soccer supporters worldwide, ultimately winning over an entire nation.

No goodbye, at least not yet

There was no formal tribute at Boca Juniors’ iconic stadium, just a celebration. No speeches. No definitive signs that this was the end, either for Messi or for the golden generation that has defined an era of Argentine soccer.

Perhaps the tears and farewells are being saved for another day.

For now, as the clock continues to tick, Messi is simply enjoying every moment he gets in an Argentina jersey. That wasn’t always the case earlier in his career, but it has become the norm. And for fans, every appearance now feels more precious than ever.

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