Messi Excluded from Argentina’s Friendly Against Venezuela

The Argentina national football team announced on Friday that Lionel Messi will not participate in the friendly match against Venezuela at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. The decision follows discussions between Messi and the team staff, with Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, indicating a focus on experimenting with the lineup ahead of the upcoming matches.

Scaloni addressed the media on Thursday, hinting at the possibility of testing various strategies during the match against Venezuela. He stated, “Yes, we’ve spoken with [Messi], as we’ve spoken with everyone. We haven’t decided on the team yet.” Scaloni emphasized that the final lineup would be determined during the team’s last training session before the game, which is set for Friday evening.

These friendlies serve as critical preparation for the 2026 World Cup, with Scaloni reiterating the importance of utilizing these matches to assess player combinations. “It’s true that these are games to try out and to see… but today we’ll finalize that decision,” he noted. Argentina is set to play again on Tuesday against Puerto Rico at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This match was relocated from Chicago, partly due to disappointing ticket sales.

Messi’s club team, Inter Miami, is scheduled to face Atlanta United FC in their final home game on Saturday. Inter Miami coach, Javier Mascherano, expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of seeing Messi play but acknowledged he had not discussed the matter with the star player. “I’d love it. Imagine being able to have Leo Messi,” Mascherano said. “But the reality is, he hasn’t been with us.”

Even though Inter Miami has secured a spot in the 2025 MLS playoffs, the team aims to improve its position in the Eastern Conference standings, which would grant them home-field advantage during the postseason.

Fans and analysts will watch closely to see how Argentina performs against Venezuela and how the team utilizes this opportunity for development ahead of the World Cup. The absence of Messi, while notable, opens the door for other players to showcase their skills on a prominent stage.