The Argentina men’s football team took on Venezuela in an international friendly fixture at the Chase Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Saturday.
Captain and star player Lionel Messi was rested for the match, while Real Madrid youngster Franco Mastantuono missed out due to a thigh injury.
La Albiceleste have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and face their South American neighbour before facing Puerto Rico on Monday.
Why was there a minute of silence ahead of Argentina vs Venezuela?
The players of both Argentina and Venezuela lined up around the centre circle line ahead of kick-off to pay respects to Argentine international and former player Miguel Angel Russo who passed away on October 8, aged 69.
Russo passed while coaching Boca Juniors, although his last match in charge was on September 10, 2025, against Rosario Central, a club where he had five stints as manager. The coach, who assumed his third term at the club in June of this year, was in charge of the side at this year’s FIFA Club World Cup.
As a player, he played for Estudiantes de La Plata.
He also played 17 times for Argentina and was part of the team during the qualifiers for the 1986 World Cup. However, injuries kept him out of the tournament held in Mexico during which the nation won its their second star.
Published on Oct 11, 2025
