Buenos Aires: Captain Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s next four friendly matches, according to local press reports.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner previously retired from the national side after their 2016 Copa America final defeat by Chile before returning to help them qualify for this year’s World Cup.
The two-time World Champions will face Guatemala in Los Angeles, September 7 and Colombia in New York four days later, before two friendlies later in the year against as-yet unnamed opponents.
“Messi will not return this year and there are doubts about his future,” proclaimed Argentinian daily Clarin. News website ‘Infobae’ said: “He will take a rest period, but that doesn’t mean he’s quitting.
Lionel Scaloni has been in temporary charge of Argentina since Jorge Sampaoli left after their disastrous World Cup tournament in Russia. He will name his first squad for the visit to the United States later this week. “It is the coach who will say, when the time comes, what the situation is concerning Messi,” a team spokesman told this agency.
“It’s very personal, Leo must take his time to think about it,” said Carlos Tevez, who is also a close friend of Messi.