Lionel Messi sat out Argentina’s friendly against Indonesia, disappointing home fans
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Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has stated that Lionel Messi would not play in the forthcoming friendly against Indonesia. The 35-year-old has been rested for the match, as have fellow veterans Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi.
Argentina will face Indonesia in a friendly match on Monday at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. The home fans, however, will be upset because Messi, Otamendi, and Di Maria are not on the visiting team’s roster.
#LionelMessi #Messi𓃵 #argentinaindonesia Lionel Messi Pulls Out Of Argentina’s International Friendly Against Indonesia, Leaves Tim Garuda Fans Vexed. @Argentina
— India.com (@indiacom) June 16, 2023
READ: https://t.co/LB786iE4cg pic.twitter.com/HDmpr84Xa1
Scaloni has stated that all three players have been rested and will not be in the team tomorrow. Lionel is currently on holiday, according to the Argentine manager, following a long season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He stated, “I understand that Indonesian fans are sad, but Lionel is resting, I had already decided before that he, Di María and Otamendi should rest after a very long season. Argentina is well above any player. In this case, Leo is not there, but the others are. We hope they, the fans are going to enjoy it.”
Lionel Messi will return to Inter Miami after his break and is set to make his MLS debut in August.
Lionel Scaloni Supports Messi’s Choice for 2026 World Cup
Lionel Scaloni has revealed that Leo Messi may not be included in Argentina’s roster for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. He believes Lionel is logical in his approach and should not commit to a tournament three years away.
Lionel told the media last week that he was not going to put up his boots anytime soon, but that he planned to play until the 2026 World Cup. Scaloni responded (through GOAL): “His statements seem to me to be very prudent and he is not lying. The reality is that he’s going to see what happens. We’re going to follow his progress and I think it’s the logical thing to do. The World Cup is so far away and he is very cautious.”
He continued: “The important thing is that he feels good and that he wants to play. With the passage of time we will see how he is and if he feels up to it, which is the important thing because he will know how to play football today and in ten years’ time.”
Lionel is one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or this year. The Argentine, on the other hand, has no plans to add to his personal achievements. He stated in a recent interview with SPORT that the accolade was no longer relevant to him after winning the FIFA World Cup last year.
