QATAR 2022
Messi will play against Brazil - Scaloni
The Argentina coach spoke ahead of the match against Brazil and confirmed that Messi will play. "He's going to play. Let's hope he feels good."
Lionel Messi will play for Argentina in their World Cup qualifier with Brazil in Argentina on Tuesday. Speaking ahead of the game, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said: "Against Uruguay, we decided that Messi would play a few minutes to see how he was and he will play tomorrow. We hope he feels good."
Minutes against Uruguay
Messi had been recovering from a knee and hamstring problem which saw him miss PSG’s last two matches before the international break. He also underwent treatment on his knee in Madrid, along with PSG team-mate Leandro Paredes, who has also been recently sidelined for the Ligue 1 side.
In Argentina's 1-0 win over Uruguay, Messi played for 15 minutes. Everything indicated that he was going to be a starter, but the player's entourage convinced him to rest and recover fully for tomorrow's match against Brazil. Scaloni confirmed that he could have played, but it became clear afterwards that the decision was the best one.
Before that match, the coach had responded in a press conference to a question about his relationship with PSG, stating that Samuel, one of his assistants, had spoken to the club's sporting director Leonardo, and that he understood the club's position, as with all clubs.
Argentine outlet TyC Sports reported a few months ago that Messi would have included in his contract his priority to play with Argentina in both official and friendly matches.
Paredes in the same boat
PSG player Paredes was injured a month ago with the national team and the Parisian club said he would recover with them, but Scaloni called him up anyway.
The coach had this to say about the former Boca player: "Leandro is fine. We have to evaluate whether we will include him in the final call-up or not. The decision will be made at the last minute. The most important thing is that he is well. In theory, he's over the injury and we will decide tomorrow".
The case of Bale
This situation with Messi is very reminiscent of the case of Gareth Bale with Real Madrid. The Welshman, injured for a couple of months, returned to play for his national team without having played any minutes for his club. The anger at the LaLiga club is increasing over his latest situation. Bale's contract at the Santiago Bernabéu runs out in June 2022.