The Argentina national team secured a 1-0 victory over Venezuela in a friendly match held on Friday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, with Lionel Messi absent from the lineup as per head coach Lionel Scaloni’s decision. The win featured a solitary goal from Giovani Lo Celso and showcased Argentina’s dominance despite the absence of their star forward.
Scaloni explained the reasoning for Messi’s absence, stating, “I decided that Leo [Messi] would not play. We wanted to try Lautaro [Martinez] and Julian [Alvarez] and had Jose Manuel Lopez on the bench. I thought it was a valid option.” While Lopez did not get on the field, the coach indicated he would feature in the next fixture. Messi was present in the stands with his family, observing the match.
Argentina’s victory was secured by a well-executed goal from Lo Celso following a connection with Lautaro Martínez. The team controlled the offensive phase of the game, registering 19 shots with 11 on target, reflecting their superiority in the attacking third. Despite this strong performance, the coach remained cautious about Messi’s availability for their upcoming friendly against Puerto Rico on October 14, remarking, “Let’s hope Messi can be there on Tuesday, we’ll see how things unfold in the coming days.”
Inter Miami’s Rodrigo De Paul, another notable player from Messi’s American club, began on the bench and replaced Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez in the second half. Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano expressed enthusiasm about the potential of Messi playing with the club in the Major League Soccer match against Atlanta United, although he clarified that no discussions had taken place yet. “I’d love it. Imagine being able to have Leo Messi… but the reality is he hasn’t been with us. I haven’t spoken to Leo,” Mascherano said.
Inter Miami has already secured a place in the 2025 MLS playoffs but aims to improve its standing in the Eastern Conference to secure home-field advantage in the postseason.
The Argentina squad also faced a setback with Franco Mastantuono ruled out for the remainder of the camp due to a left thigh injury.
This friendly result highlights Argentina’s depth as they continue preparations for upcoming fixtures while managing the workload of their key players like Messi, who remains central to both his national and club teams’ future plans.
