ARGENTINA
Argentina confirm Messi absence against El Salvador and Costa Rica: when will he play next for the World Cup winners?
La Albiceleste have confirmed the Inter Miami star won’t play this month as they continue preparations for the 2024 Copa América.
The Argentina national team has confirmed captain Lionel Messi will play no part in their international friendlies in March. La Albiceleste stated that the Inter Miami attacker wouldn’t feature in their games against El Salvador and Costa Rica, which will be played in the United States, due to an injury to his right hamstring.
While the rest of the squad met in Philadelphia to begin preparing for the clash against El Salvador on Friday 22 March, Messi will continue with his recovery. The decision has almost certainly been taken with one eye on this summer’s 2024 Copa América, which the former Barcelona star will be desperate to be fully fit for.
It had been widely speculated Messi would miss the Argentina double header after he failed to feature in Inter Miami’s win against DC United. And the 36-year-old’s absence has now been made official, which will force head coach Lionel Scaloni’s to test out attacking alternatives against the Salvadorans from Lincoln Financial Field.
Will Messi play for Argentina before the 2024 Copa América?
After facing Costa Rica at United Airlines Field at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Argentina only have one more match before they start their Copa América campaign on 20 June.
The world champions are scheduled to play against Guatemala at FedEx Field in Washington D.C. on 14 June, which will probably be Messi’s next appearance for his country.
Who will wear Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey for Argentina?
Although Argentina have yet to confirm who will take Messi’s iconic number 10 jersey, journalist Gastón Edul has hinted that Liverpool No. 10 Alexis Mac Allister, who is having a fine debut season under Jürgen Klopp, is the most likely candidate.
The other prominent attacking players in the squad aren’t expected to switch away from their “normal” jerseys, such as Angel Di María (11), Julían Álvarez (9), Lautaro Martínez (22) and Enzo Fernández (17).
Youngsters Facundo Buonanotte, Valetín Carboni and Alejandro Garnacho are all part of the squad but will have to bide their time to stake a claim for the most emblematic number of Argentine soccer.