Argentina to field Lionel Messi in friendly match against Zambia at La Bombonera
Lionel Scaloni, the manager of the Argentina national team, has confirmed that Lionel Messi will be in the starting lineup for the friendly match against Zambia on Tuesday evening at La Bombonera.
“Yes, I believe he will start from the beginning tomorrow [against Zambia],” Scaloni stated.
Messi is anticipated to make his first start of the March international window with Argentina, following his appearance as a halftime substitute in the 2-1 win over Mauritania on March 27 at La Bombonera.
Scaloni mentioned that he will utilize the friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia to finalize the 26-player roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, evaluating each player’s performance to reach a conclusion.
“The list of 26 players [for the World Cup], I think we’re above the percentage. We need to start eliminating options now based on performance. There is no other choice,” Scaloni remarked.
The current World Cup champions secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Mauritania, a lower-ranked team (115th in the FIFA rankings) that has never qualified for the World Cup.
“The match the other night could have served as a warning; it’s something that as a head coach one begins to consider, and later, we will make a decision,” Scaloni noted.
We will prioritize the team’s best interests and make decisions accordingly. I would say I have a fairly clear list, but if the performances do not meet expectations, we will take action and ensure we are confident in the players selected to perform optimally.”
Although Scaloni had previously indicated that Messi has not made a decision regarding his participation in the World Cup, he emphasized that the nation would be delighted to have him on the team for the upcoming tournament.
“The key is that he comes and enjoys it. That he enjoys being at the World Cup, which theoretically would be the last, but I wouldn’t dare to make any assertions, just that he enjoys it,” Scaloni expressed.
“I believe it’s not only Argentines who wish to see him; everyone wants to see him. They want to witness his training, see him play, and that is what we all hope for.”
Argentina, champions in 1978, 1986, and 2022, will kick off their campaign against Algeria on June 16 in Group J in Kansas City. They will subsequently face Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27.
Information from The Associated Press was utilized in this report.
