BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — In a highly anticipated move, Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that legendary captain Lionel Messi will return to the starting lineup for Tuesday’s international friendly against Zambia. This match marks Argentina’s final appearance on home turf before embarking on their campaign to defend the FIFA World Cup title.
The decision comes after Messi began Friday’s underwhelming 2-1 victory over Mauritania on the bench. Scaloni’s announcement signals a strategic shift to field a full-strength squad against Zambia, providing what he described as ‘the final test’ for his established core players before the global tournament.
While the 38-year-old maestro hasn’t formally committed to World Cup participation, Scaloni expressed strong expectations that Messi will feature in what would be his record-extending sixth World Cup appearance. ‘The important thing is that he comes and enjoys being at a World Cup — which, theoretically, will be his last,’ Scaloni stated. ‘We want him to enjoy it, because later on, you really miss playing in events like these.’
The coach emphasized that Friday’s lackluster performance against Mauritania didn’t reflect the team’s true capabilities. ‘I am convinced that the team’s performance level is not what we saw the other day,’ Scaloni asserted. ‘If we see that the team isn’t quite there, we’ll look for other options. But they deserve a vote of confidence.’
Scaloni has already submitted a preliminary 55-player roster to the Argentina Football Association, with the final 26-man squad scheduled for confirmation by late May. The coach acknowledged that while established players maintain an advantage due to familiarity, they must demonstrate consistent performance levels. ‘Everyone knows what happened the other day cannot be repeated,’ he warned, emphasizing the pursuit of ‘something as close to perfection as we can get’ in squad selection.