According to Spanish Publication Marca, Lionel Messi will only play in one of Argentina’s friendly matches as he finally makes his long awaited return to international football. The Barcelona superstar has not played for the La Albisceleste since the 2018 World cup where they went out to eventual champions France.
Following the match Messi decided to take a sabbatical from the national team and missed all of Argentina’s matches after the world cup. However he has decided to make a return in this round of international fixtures which will serve as tune up matches for blue and white men ahead of the Copa America in Brazil.
The Luca Scaloni led team will play Venezuela at the Wanda Metropoiliatano the venue for this year’s champions league final before travelling to Tangiers to take on Morocco next Tuesday.
However, it has now been reported Messi will take part in thee game against Venezuela alone as Barcelona are still in the the thick of actions this season. The La Liga champions are still in the hunt on three fronts this season and will need a fit Lionel Messi if they are to have success in all competitions.
Messi – who has been training with his teammates at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground this week – is scheduled to play in that game, but will then reportedly return to Barcelona and not feature in the friendly against Morocco in Tangier on Tuesday next week.
Messi will continue to captain the side, although he won’t play in both matches across the course of this current international break. Argentina unveiled their new shirt on Tuesday afternoon with.
Messi will continue to captain the side, although he won’t play in both matches across the course of this current international break. The friendly against Venezuela will feature the 31-year-old, but he won’t take part in the subsequent friendly with Morocco.
Argentina unveiled their new shirt on Tuesday afternoon with Messi front and centre of the advertising campaign, despite calls for Paulo Dybala to spearhead the new era of Albiceleste football.
Meanwhile, Cesar Luis Menotti – the man who coached Argentina to their first World Cup triumph in 1978 – has voiced his concern over the emotional load placed on Messi when he is with his national side.
“I’m afraid that Messi plays,” Menotti told FM 94.7 . “I see him with important emotional fatigue between the Champions League and the national team. I see him very tired. “If he wants to play with Argentina, better.”