Argentina grabbed a narrow 1-0 win over Venezuela in a warm and lively night at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on October 10, 2025. The world champions looked sharp despite missing Lionel Messi, who stayed back to train with Inter Miami ahead of their crucial MLS clash with Atlanta United, a game already highlighted in Softfootball's preview . This friendly marked another stop in Argentina's U.S. tour as they continue to test depth and rhythm before the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Coach Lionel Scaloni rotated his squad a bit, resting a few regulars and giving young blood like Nico Paz the chance to shine. The teenager, who's been attracting attention at Real Madrid, impressed again with his confidence on the ball. In the 31st minute, Giovani Lo Celso broke the deadlock after a smart pass from Lautaro Martinez, finishing calmly to give Argentina the lead. Lo Celso's performance stood out, especially with younger names like Franco Mastantuono, who recently missed these friendlies due to a minor injury , still on the sidelines.
Venezuela tried to stay compact and hit on the break but struggled to match Argentina's intensity. Their goalkeeper, Jose Contreras, was easily their best performer, pulling off several great saves, especially against Martinez, who could've had a brace on another night. The visitors almost stunned the crowd when Teo Quintero smashed the crossbar late in the game, but that was as close as they came.