Lionel Messi may characteristic in two friendlies for Argentina earlier than the top of March after the World Cup holders rearranged their schedule as a result of two fixtures fell by.
Lionel Scaloni’s facet had been set to play Spain within the Finalissima in Qatar on March 27 earlier than the match was known as off over the battle within the Center East.
They then organized a house match towards Guatemala, who needed to pull out as a result of they face Algeria in Genoa 4 days earlier and FIFA laws don’t permit groups to play on two continents throughout the identical worldwide window.
Right here’s when Argentina are actually enjoying, together with kick-off occasions and whether or not Messi is prone to play.
When is Lionel Messi enjoying for Argentina?
Though Messi’s involvement is just not sure, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is a part of an Argentina squad who will play Mauritania on March 27 and Zambia on March 31.
The video games are an opportunity for followers in Messi’s homeland to see their facet in motion for the ultimate time earlier than the 2026 World Cup within the US, Canada and Mexico.
The video games shall be performed at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, which is the house of Boca Juniors and has a capability of greater than 57,000.
When is Argentina vs Mauritania?
The sport towards Mauritania, who’re one hundred and fifteenth in FIFA’s rankings, will happen at 20:15 native time on Friday (23:15 GMT / 18:15 ET / 15:15 PT).
Visiting head coach Aritz Lopez Garai, who has performed and managed within the Spanish second division, found his facet may very well be enjoying Argentina final Friday.
“The federation president advised me there was a chance,” Garia stated, talking to Ole. “He didn’t affirm it as a result of the paperwork was nonetheless pending, and the whole lot accelerated with the announcement that the match was confirmed.”
Garia performed in a 2-1 defeat and 5-0 thrashing towards Messi’s Barcelona whereas he was a midfielder with Cordoba.
“We aspire to be aggressive, however we’re going to face the most effective participant on the earth. I imagine this shall be a singular alternative for my gamers to showcase themselves on a worldwide stage.
“Taking part in with Messi at La Bombonera, the last word stadium, is a unprecedented motivation for any participant, and we’ve got to know methods to management that pleasure so it doesn’t backfire.
“A match of this magnitude is a superb alternative; circumstances have merely unfolded this fashion. For Mauritania, this can be a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.”
When is Argentina vs Zambia?
Zambia are 91st within the rankings and can meet Argentina on Monday, once more beginning at 20:15 native time (23:15 GMT / 18:15 ET / 15:15 PT).
Led by former nationwide crew centre-back Moses Sichone, Zambia completed final of their Africa Cup of Nations group through a defeat to Morocco and attracts with Mali and Comoros.
The Copper Bullets completed fourth of their World Cup qualifying group and have by no means reached the finals.
That they had been scheduled to play in a four-nations match with Zimbabwe, Malawi and Botswana earlier than the sport towards Argentina was confirmed.
One in all Zambia’s best-known gamers is prolific ahead Patson Daka, who has been a daily for Leicester Metropolis within the Championship this season.
The Foxes paid Salzurg £23 million to take Daka to the Premier League in 2021 and the four-time Austrian champion helped them win the second tier in 2023/24.
Will Lionel Messi play for Argentina vs Mauritania and Zambia?
Whereas many followers are determined to see Messi play at any time when his groups are in motion, Scaloni might select to make use of the 38-year-old sparingly with the World Cup below three months away.
Messi has a historical past of struggling accidents on worldwide obligation. “After his return, we’ll merely monitor how he’s feeling day-to-day,” his Inter Miami boss, Javier Mascherano, said after his captain scored and performed the total 90 minutes in an MLS win over New York Metropolis on Sunday.
“Clearly, he is an important participant for us if we’re to realize our aims. Fairly frankly, with out him, it will be not possible for us to succeed in the targets we’ve got set for ourselves.
“That stated, we additionally perceive that he’s reaching the ultimate stretch [before the World Cup]. As I’ve talked about earlier than – figuring out him as I do, and on condition that most of the selections we make concerning him are reached by mutual settlement – we’ve got to maintain the traces of communication open, continually checking in on his bodily sensations and the way he’s feeling.”
Lionel Messi: Argentina squad vs Mauritania, Zambia
Right here’s how Argentina’s squad appears for the matches.
| Place | Gamers |
| Goalkeepers | Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid) |
| Defenders | Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Tomas Palacios (Estudiantes de la Plata), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Gabriel Rojas (Racing Membership), Marcos Acuna (River Plate), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg) |
| Midfielders | Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Maximo Perrone (Como), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Leverkusen), Nicolas Paz (Como) |
| Forwards | Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Jose Lopez (Palmeiras), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid) |
Argentina World Cup 2026 fixtures
Argentina’s World Cup marketing campaign begins on June 16 in Kansas. Kick-off occasions marked with an asterisk are the next day.
| Date | Opponents | Venue | PT | ET | GMT |
| June 16 | Algeria | Kansas Metropolis | 18:00 | 21:00 | 01:00* |
| June 22 | Austria | Dallas | 10:00 | 13:00 | 17:00 |
| June 27 | Jordan | Dallas | 19:00 | 22:00 | 02:00* |
