Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has revealed that Lionel Messi may not start in the upcoming World Cup Qualifying clash against Chile on Thursday, June 05th. While the Inter Miami star is not dealing with any injuries, his place in the starting eleven remains undecided.
What did Argentine head coach Lionel Scaloni say on Lionel Messi?
I talked to him, and we are still in contact. We haven’t decided yet if he will start in the match or not. I need to talk to him to understand his physical condition, Scaloni said during Wednesday’s press conference.
Today, we are in a position to try different things. Initially, he is ready to play, and we’ll see after that. He is coming off a good match, and we’ll make a decision soon, he added.
Lionel Messi returns after seven-month absence
Messi’s appearance would mark his return to international football after a seven-month break. The last time he played for La Albiceleste was in November during Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Peru.
Following that game, the 36-year-old sustained a muscle strain, which sidelined him for critical qualifiers against Brazil and Uruguay, both of which Argentina won to secure their World Cup berth.
Lionel Scaloni to experiment with squad amid absences
With Argentina already qualified, Scaloni has the flexibility to test new options. One of the exciting additions is 17-year-old Franco Mastantuono from River Plate, who received his first national team call-up. The coach is expected to shuffle his lineup significantly, as six regular starters are unavailable due to injuries or suspensions.
Notable absences include Nicolas Otamendi, Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes, and Alexis Mac Allister. Scaloni also confirmed that Giovanni Lo Celso is ruled out because of muscle discomfort.
Lionel Messi’s club form remains impressive
Despite Inter Miami’s inconsistent team performances, Messi has been in outstanding form. The Argentine legend has netted 15 goals and contributed five assists this season.
He recently scored twice in a commanding 5-1 win over Montreal on Saturday and followed up with another brace in Miami’s 4-2 victory just days earlier. Remarkably, Messi has played every minute for his club since April, when he missed a game against Dallas.