The pair struck in the first-half as Alfio Basile's side did just enough to see off the determined hosts and secure a second consecutive victory.

Venezuela matched Argentina in the opening period and striker Giancarlo Maldonado wasted a good chance top open the scoring when he fired over the bar.

But three minutes later, Milito got on the end of a precise free-kick from Juan Roman Riquelme to head Argentina into the lead.

Venezuela dominated possession but it was the visitors who doubled their lead when Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez fed Messi and the Barcelona star found the back of the net with a powerful shot from the edge of the area.

Juan Arango wasted a great chance just after the break when the Mallorca striker finished weakly with just Argentina keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri to beat.

Substitute Ricardo Rosales headed just wide from Arango's corner shortly afterwards before the latter clashed heads with Nicolas Burdisso on 77 minutes, knocking out the Internazionale defender, who was subsequently taken to hospital as a precaution.

Messi was denied by Venezuela goalkeeper Renny Vega late on but it did not matter as Argentina maintained a perfect qualifying record.