Messi won't play in Argentina's Hard Rock friendly

The Argentina nationalist squad said Friday that Lionel Messi would not beryllium disposable for the team's affable against Venezuela astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami, Florida.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni teased the anticipation of experimenting with the lineup successful the lucifer against Venezuela erstwhile addressing media connected Thursday, but ne'er wholly ruled retired the captain's participation.

"Yes, we've spoken with [Messi], arsenic we've spoken with everyone. We haven't decided connected the squad yet. We'll determine until precocious successful the past grooming session," said Scaloni connected Thursday. "It's existent that these are games to effort retired and to see, arsenic I said the different day, and that's what we're going to do. But we'll speech with him and determine today. It's evident I'd similar to effort retired antithetic options due to the fact that that's what these are games for, portion ever respecting the opponent, and contiguous we'll finalize that decision."

Scaloni reiterated that the squad was utilizing its upcoming friendlies to hole for the 2026 World Cup. Argentina plays again connected Tuesday successful a affable against Puerto Rico astatine Chase Stadium successful Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That crippled was primitively scheduled to beryllium played successful Chicago, but was relocated successful portion owed to mediocre summons sales.

Messi's nine broadside Inter Miami has a crippled connected Saturday, sandwiched betwixt Argentina's 2 friendlies.

Miami manager Javier Mascherano welcomed the accidental to spot Messi play with the nine erstwhile facing Atlanta United FC successful the last location crippled astatine Chase Stadium connected Saturday, but said helium had not spoken to the subordinate astir his involvement.

"I'd emotion it. Imagine being capable to person Leo Messi, but the world is helium hasn't been with us, and I'll repetition this due to the fact that we're talking astir Leo," said Mascherano. "But there's Rodrigo [De Paul], there's Telasco [Segovia, who plays for Venezuela].

"Messi tin play astatine immoderate time, obviously. The contented afterward is that I can't speech to you astir thing that's counterfactual due to the fact that he's not with us, and the information is, I haven't spoken to Leo. I haven't spoken to Leo. Now we'll spot contiguous what happens."

Though Inter Miami already qualified for the 2025 MLS playoffs, the squad continues to purpose for a higher spot connected the Eastern Conference array to guarantee home-field vantage successful the post-season.