Messi back with Argentina after 7-month layoff

After a seven-month hiatus from planetary duty, Argentina skipper Lionel Messi rejoined the nationalist squad for grooming connected Monday, successful mentation for their upcoming Conmebol World Cup qualifying matches against Chile and Colombia.

Messi, 37, past represented the reigning World Cup champions successful November 2024.

A musculus wounded subsequently sidelined him from the March doubleheader, a play during which Lionel Scaloni's squad successfully secured their qualification for the adjacent World Cup.

Messi arrived astatine the grooming analyzable named successful his grant extracurricular Buenos Aires for his archetypal signifier with the 'Albiceleste' successful an bonzer tally of signifier with Inter Miami CF.

On Monday, helium was named the MLS Player of the Week for 2nd clip successful a row, aft his engagement successful each 5 of Miami's goals during their 5-1 triumph implicit Columbus Crew past Saturday.

Argentina, presently starring the Conmebol standings with 31 points, is acceptable to look Chile distant connected Thursday earlier hosting Colombia astatine the Estadio Monumental successful Buenos Aires.

The existent squad features 3 additions alongside Messi's return, each making their Argentina debuts.

Defenders Kevin Lomónaco (Independiente) and Mariano Troilo (Belgrano), and 17-year-old guardant Franco Mastantuono from River Plate, who has already garnered important involvement from salient European clubs, received their archetypal call-up for the nationalist team.

Scaloni faces immoderate cardinal decisions connected his starting lineup owed to galore cardinal players being sidelined by injuries and suspensions.

Benfica defender Nicolás Otamendi is suspended and the imaginable replacements to spouse with Tottenham's Cristian Romero successful the halfway of the defence see Olympique Marseille's Leonardo Balerdi and Lens' Facundo Medina.

Furthermore, Argentina's midfield volition spot important changes with Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister sidelined with an injury, portion Chelsea's Enzo Fernández and AS Roma's Leandro Paredes are suspended for 1 lucifer owed to accumulated yellowish cards.

Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martínez is expected to articulation the nationalist squad connected Wednesday, pursuing his club's 5-0 decision to Paris Saint-Germain successful the Champions League last past Saturday. He's not expected to beryllium disposable for Thursday's match.