Lionel Messi Returns to International Duty
Lionel Messi, the 37-year-old captain of Argentina, marked his return to the national team for training on Monday after a seven-month break from international competitions. His last appearance for the current World Cup champions was in November 2024, prior to a muscle injury that kept him from participating in a critical doubleheader in March, during which his teammates secured their spot for the next World Cup.
Training and Upcoming Matches
Messi arrived at a training complex named after him, located just outside Buenos Aires, to begin preparations for the upcoming Conmebol World Cup qualifying matches against Chile and Colombia. During this time, he has been in stellar form playing for Inter Miami CF, where he was recently honored as MLS Player of the Week for the second consecutive time, thanks to his pivotal role in the team’s 5-1 victory over Columbus Crew, contributing to all five goals.
Currently, Argentina sits at the top of the Conmebol standings with 31 points, poised to play against Chile in an away match on Thursday, followed by a home game at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires versus Colombia.
New Faces in the Squad
As Messi rejoins the squad, he is not the only one making headlines; three other players have also received their first call-ups to represent Argentina, including defenders Kevin Lomónaco from Independiente and Mariano Troilo from Belgrano, as well as 17-year-old forward Franco Mastantuono from River Plate, who has attracted attention from various top European teams.
Strategic Decisions and Player Adjustments
Head coach Lionel Scaloni is tasked with strategic decisions regarding the starting lineup due to injuries and suspensions affecting key players. Notably, Benfica defender Nicolás Otamendi will be absent due to a suspension, prompting the coach to consider alternative options to partner with Tottenham’s Cristian Romero in the central defense, with candidates including Leonardo Balerdi from Olympique Marseille and Facundo Medina from Lens.
The midfield is also undergoing significant adjustments, as Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister is unavailable due to injury, while Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández and AS Roma’s Leandro Paredes will miss a match each because of yellow card accumulation.
Meanwhile, striker Lautaro Martínez from Inter Milan is expected to join the national squad on Wednesday, following his club’s defeat in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, although he is not anticipated to be match-ready for the upcoming game against Chile.
