Lionel Scaloni reveals if Messi will play all the games in the South American qualifiers

Lionel Messi returns to the Argentine National Team for this new FIFA date. The Argentine player returns to represent his country after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, now for the start of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, where curiously Lionel Messi has not confirmed his presence.

The Argentine player has placed himself in an important way at Inter Miami and this has been more than enough for Scaloni to consider him, beyond being one of the national team's benchmarks. However, a lot has to do with Lionel Messi's willingness to continue as long as he can with the national team. More than anything taking into account the Copa America to be played in 2024.

Regarding the presence of Messi, the coach Lionel Scaloni confessed to a conversation with the player. "I spoke for a while yesterday and he made himself available, he trained as always. He's fine, I see him as everyone sees him, happy, happy. He found a place where they want him and I always say that he is happy inside a soccer field. Beyond country or city where he is, he needs to play football and feel happy", commented the coach with a press conference.

Will Messi play in the knockout matches?

Regarding Messi's participation in the qualifying rounds, he assured that he will always be the starter if he is physically fit. "He will always play, if he doesn't have anything he will play everything he can play, that's the way it is, we have no other intention. For us, being on the field is important. There's no reason to save it if he doesn't have anything and it looks good," he said.