Lionel Messi's potential participation in Argentina's friendly against Puerto Rico at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, remains uncertain, according to coach Lionel Scaloni. The match, scheduled for Tuesday, follows Argentina's 1-0 victory over Venezuela, a game Messi missed.
Messi was released from the national team for the Venezuela match to play for Inter Miami against Atlanta United where he scored twice and assisted another goal in a 4-0 victory. Scaloni said he would assess Messi's fitness after seeing him play for Inter Miami. "I saw Messi play on Saturday. From what I know, he finished well. I haven't spoken to him yet," Scaloni told reporters on Monday. "Now we have the last training session for tomorrow's match, and as we always do before preparing for the final training, I'll talk to him and if he's in condition, he'll play tomorrow".
Scaloni tempered expectations, stating, "He'll probably be there, but I can't confirm how many minutes he'll get". He acknowledged the importance of ensuring Messi's well-being, especially with upcoming World Cup qualifiers and the 2026 tournament in mind. "We'll see how he feels. The most important thing is for him to stay healthy and continue building rhythm with the group," a member of the technical staff said.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Messi, Scaloni confirmed that goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez would start. He also indicated that several new players would get an opportunity to prove themselves. "Some of the new guys will play tomorrow, that's the idea. We believe they deserve it and it's a nice game for us to see them," Scaloni stated. José Manuel López and Lautaro Rivero are among those expected to make their debut.
The match against Puerto Rico was moved from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale due to security and logistical concerns. Argentina is the favorite to win the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. They finished South American World Cup qualifying with a nine-point lead over second-place Ecuador. This will be the first-ever match between Argentina and Puerto Rico.
