The world champions were frustrated in Thursday's (10.10.24) game and the football icon felt that heavy rain in the city of Maturin made it impossible to play cohesive football.

Messi told TyC after the match: "It was very difficult, it makes for very ugly matches.

"We could not complete two passes in a row. In the second half we did it on the right a little more, but it is difficult to play like that. Very little is played."

Argentina remain at the top of the South American qualifier section but Messi felt that the result against Venezuela was a missed opportunity for his team.

The Inter Miami star said: "We tied because the field didn't help us do what we wanted, we had to do another game than the one prepared for.

"But we were prepared because we fought, won the battles, played with the error of the rival. We couldn't risk much by playing with passes to the back. In the first half we made a couple of passes to the back and the water would stop it, and complicated it. We did the game we could with the water."

The game marked Messi's first appearance for Argentina since the Copa America win in the summer after he missed two months due to injury and he was pleased to play for his country once again.

He said: "The wait to play again [with Argentina] was too long. I also missed many games with my club. I am happy to return, to continue adding consecutive games and to be here again."