Lionel Messi is set to start for Argentina in their friendly match against Zambia on Tuesday, marking the reigning world champions’ final game on home soil before they defend their World Cup title. Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, confirmed that Messi, who was initially on the bench during Friday’s underwhelming 2-1 victory over Mauritania, will lead a largely full-strength squad against Zambia.
At 38 years old, Messi has yet to officially confirm his participation in the upcoming World Cup, although he played a key role throughout Argentina’s qualification campaign. Scaloni expressed confidence that Messi will be included in the squad for what could be his sixth World Cup appearance and his final tournament as an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“The most important thing is for him to come and enjoy the World Cup — which, theoretically, will be his last,” Scaloni remarked. “We want him to savor the experience because events like this are truly missed once they’re over.”
Scaloni also revealed that Messi will be supported by the core group of players who helped Argentina top the South American qualifying stage and are expected to start the World Cup as one of the favorites for the trophy. “Most of the familiar players will be on the field. This match will serve as our final test,” he said. “Afterwards, we’ll consider bringing in some younger talent, but the plan is to field our strongest and most experienced lineup.”
Addressing the team’s lackluster performance against Mauritania, Scaloni emphasized that the previous match was not indicative of the squad’s true potential. “I am convinced the team’s level was not what we saw the other day,” he stated. “If we find the team isn’t at its best, we’ll explore other options. However, they deserve our confidence.”
Scaloni has already submitted a preliminary list of 55 players to the Argentina Football Association, with the final 26-man roster expected to be announced at the end of May. “I have the list mostly finalized, but if performance levels don’t meet expectations, we’ll make adjustments to ensure we bring the absolute best squad possible. We are aiming for near perfection,” he said.
He added that players who have been part of the team for some time hold a slight edge due to familiarity, but they must maintain high standards. “Everyone understands that what happened against Mauritania cannot happen again,” Scaloni warned.
