Messi to skip Argentina friendlies – reports

Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi takes part in a training session at the team’s base camp in Bronnitsy, on June 29, 2018 on the eve of the team’s round of sixteen football match as part of the Russia 2018 World Cup. / AFP PHOTO / JUAN MABROMATA

Captain Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s next four friendly matches, according to local press reports on Tuesday.

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 on 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.”

“It is the coach who will say, when the time comes, what the situation is concerning Messi,” a team spokesman told AFP.

Lionel Scaloni has been in temporary charge of Argentina since Jorge Sampaoli left after their disastrous World Cup tournament in Russia, where they were beaten 4-3 in the last 16 by France after an embarrassing 3-0 group-stage loss to Croatia.

He will name his first squad for the visit to the United States later this week.

“It’s very personal, Leo must take his time to think about it,” said Carlos Tevez, who is in Barcelona for Boca Juniors’ friendly on Wednesday at the Camp Nou.

“It’s understandable… even if he doesn’t come back. When the international side play, rightly or wrongly, we criticise him. It’s bad for the team and for him… I understand because I’ve been in that situation.”

Messi’s next chance to win his first major international title will be the 2019 Copa America in Brazil.