Lionel Messi’s absence speculation grows for Argentina vs Venezuela after coach Scaloni’s comments

This Friday, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami will host the first of two matches Argentina will play on U.S. soil during the October international break. Venezuela will be the opponent for Lionel Scaloni’s squad, and it’s still unclear what role Lionel Messi will play in this game.

During Thursday’s press conference, the Argentine head coach was asked whether Messi would be in the starting lineup to face Venezuela, but he didn’t offer a clear answer. “I haven’t decided the team yet,” Scaloni began.

“It’s true that these are matches to test things, and we’re going to do that,” the coach continued, before addressing Messi’s situation directly. “We’re going to talk to him today — we’ll see what we decide. Obviously, I’d like to try out some different options.”

Up to that point, Scaloni was staying true to his well-known approach of avoiding firm confirmations before each match. He’s known for withholding information ahead of games and making late surprises in the starting lineup — like he did with Angel Di Maria in the 2022 World Cup final against France.

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal for Argentina.

If Scaloni’s initial answers followed his usual style, his next response caught many off guard. One reporter asked the coach about rumors that Messi might play for Inter Miami on Saturday against Atlanta United.

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