Messi shines as Argentina rout Venezuela 3-0

Buenos Aires, Mar 26 (EFE).- Lionel Messi played a starring role in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Venezuela in their second to last South American FIFA World Cup qualifier, but he later cast doubt on his international career once the tournament in Qatar is complete.

With a place at the World Cup already sealed, Argentina got on the scoreboard in the 35th minute, when Nicolas Gonzalez tapped in from a close range a low cross from Rodrigo De Paul.

Angel di Maria scored a spectacular goal as he ran onto a clever long pass from De Paul, dribbled around the goalkeeper and a couple of defenders on the edge of the box and chipped it home in the 79th minute.

A couple of minutes later, Di Maria set up his PSG teammate Messi for the third goal.

The victory extends Argentina’s unbeaten run to 30, but after the match Messi poured some cold water on the celebrations when he suggested that he might retire from international football after the World Cup in November.

“I’m thinking of Ecuador and the preparation matches (prior to the World Cup),” said Messi, who turns 35 in June.

“After the World Cup I’m going to have to rethink a lot of things, whether it goes well or badly, hopefully well,” he added. EFE

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