Argentina 1-0 Venezuela Player Ratings: Lo Celso Rated 8.5/10 as Argentina Beat Venezuela 1-0

The international friendly between Argentina and Venezuela at Hard Rock Stadium wrapped up with a narrow 1-0 win for the defending World Cup champions. The South American rivals battled fiercely until the final whistle, but Argentina edged it by the slimmest of margins thanks to Giovani Lo Celso's 31st-minute strike. Though it was a low-stakes friendly with nothing on the line, the clash served as vital preparation building team synergy and testing core players ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.

As seen in the table above, Argentina dominated the game throughout till the final whistle was blown and still, they were not able to capitalize on the chances they created. On the other hand, Venezuela remained quiet and waited for Argentina to do something on which they could capitalize later on. Additionally, the way Venezuela absorbed pressure, only conceded 1 goal, shows how good they are in defense and their goalkeeper Contreras also had a good day but not good enough to stop that one goal, which became the difference maker.

Here are the Argentina Vs Venezuela Player Ratings

Argentina Player Ratings vs Venezuela

Here are Argentina Player Ratings vs Venezuela

Goalkeeper

D. Martinez - 7.0: Kept a clean sheet with minimal work, making one solid save in the first half. His distribution was steady, helping start attacks.

N. Molina - 6.5: Solid on the right, winning tackles and supporting attacks with decent crosses. Picked up a yellow for a late challenge but held his position well.

C. Romero - 7.5: Commanding at center-back, he won every aerial duel and made crucial blocks. His composure on the ball helped Argentina control the game.

M. Senesi - 7.0: Strong in the center, he cleared danger and passed accurately. Got a yellow for a foul but remained composed. Key to the defensive solidity.

N. Tagliafico - 6.5: Active on the left, he overlapped and defended well. Picked up a yellow for a rash tackle but contributed to the team's width. Steady performance. However, the whole defense didn't have a busy day tonight and did their duty rightfully.

Midfielders

E. Fernandez - 7.0: Worked hard in the middle, breaking up play and distributing simply. A yellow card came for a foul, but his energy kept the midfield ticking.

L. Paredes - 6.5: Disciplined in the deeper role, he shielded the defense and passed safely. Faded a bit in the second half but did his job.

G. Lo Celso - 8.5: The match-winner with his 31st-minute goal, he showed vision and creativity. Controlled tempo and linked play well.

Forwards

N. Paz - 6.5: Energetic on the wing, he pressed and created space. Limited impact in the final third but worked hard defensively.
J. Alvarez - 6.5: Held the ball up front and pressed relentlessly. Missed a couple of chances but his movement troubled Venezuela.
L. Martinez - 6.5: Busy up top, he chased lost causes and linked with teammates. No goal but his work rate kept the pressure on.

Substitutes

Leonardo Balerdi - 6.5: Entered to bolster the backline and added height for set pieces. Won key headers and stayed composed, helping maintain the clean sheet.

Rodrigo De Paul - 7.0: Brought energy to midfield with quick passes and dribbles. Nearly set up a second goal with his vision.

Nicolás González - 6.5: Added pace on the wing, stretching the play and creating a chance. Pressed well but couldn't find the net.

Giuliano Simeone - 6.0: Injected youth and hustle upfront but lacked sharpness in the box. A few promising runs, though the game was winding down.

Alexis Mac Allister - 7.0: Controlled the tempo after coming on, with smart positioning and accurate passes. Helped Argentina manage the closing stages effectively.

Manager

L. Scaloni - 7.0: Set up a balanced side that controlled the game, securing a vital win. Tactical adjustments maintained dominance, though substitutions were cautious. Good preparation for 2026.