Argentina captain Lionel Messi attributed his side's 1-1 draw against Venezuela on Thursday night to the poor conditions of the pitch at Estadio Monumental de Maturín during their first World Cup qualifier.

Heavy rain had affected the pitch before kickoff, causing an initial delay until players could return to the soaked field. Nicolás Otamendi scored first for Argentina, but Venezuela's Salomón Rondón equalized in the second half, resulting in both teams sharing the points.

During the match, players struggled to move the ball across the waterlogged pitch, resulting in the 2022 World Cup winners missing opportunities to take the lead. 

“The pitch did not help us do what we wanted to do," said Messi, who returned to the national team after missing the two previous rounds of South American qualifying due to ligament damage in his right ankle.

Venezuela defender Jon Aramburu said his team wanted a win to show its ambition.

“The rain affected the match, we couldn't play well,” he said. “We drew against a team that everyone knows of its potential. But this team is here to beat them, to compete.”

Expressing the frustaron, a user wrote in X, "How Argentina vs Venezuela is even allowed to continue is beyond me?..." Another user, sharing a video the match, said,"

Argentina, which leads the 10-team competition, has 19 points after nine matches. Colombia, with 16 points, remains in second place after losing 1-0 at Bolivia. Uruguay is third with 15 points and has a chance to add more in a match against Peru on Friday. Brazil has 13 points.

Argentina's lead in the competition could be reduced on Friday if Uruguay wins at Peru.