Argentina vs Venezuela: Captain Lionel Messi's comeback game turns nightmarish for Latin American giants

Superstar Lionel Messi’s return to the Argentina side ended in a shock 3-1 friendly defeat to lowly Venezuela in Madrid on Friday.

Superstar Lionel Messi’s return to the Argentina side ended in a shock 3-1 friendly defeat to lowly Venezuela in Madrid on Friday. (Photo | AP) 

Barcelona star Messi started the fixture following a self-imposed eight-month exile in which he missed six friendlies since the tournament in Russia, which they exited in the last 16 at the hands of eventual champions France. (Photo | AP)

Salomon Rondon and Jhon Murillo gave Venezuela a two-goal advantage at the break.(Photo | AP)

Argentina forward Lautaro Martinez halved the deficit before Josef Martinez scored from the spot to claim the spoils in the friendly. (Photo | AP)

Messi's 129th cap started poorly as Newcastle forward Rondon controlled a long ball before hammering home a half-volley past Argentine goalkeeper Franco Armani. (Photo | AP)

Venezuela's fast counterattacks were a nightmare for Argentina throughout the game. IN PIC: Venezuela's Tomas Rincon fights for the ball with Argentina's Leondro Paredes (on the ground) and Giovani Lo Celso. (Photo | AP)

Messi showed his usual deft skills and his long-range shot in the 38th minute was headed for the top corner until Venezuela goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez Aray tipped the ball over the crossbar. (Photo | AP)

Argentina will play another friendly on Tuesday against Morocco in Tangier. IN PIC: Argentina's Gonzalo Martinez fights for the ball with Venezuela's Ronald Hernandez (Photo | AP)

Argentina has not won a trophy since the 1993 Copa America. It lost the last two finals of the tournament to Chile, in 2015 and 2016. It also lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany. (Photo | AP)