Messi a doubt for the starting XI, Argentina take on Venezuela in Miami | OneFootball

From 21:00, at the Hard Rock Stadium, the Albiceleste returns to action after leading the Qualifiers. Scaloni will test variations and might give the number 10 a rest, while the visiting team arrives shaken and with an interim coach.

The Argentine National Team will present itself again this Friday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami to face Venezuela from 21:00, in the first of the friendly matches in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. It will be a good opportunity for Lionel Scaloni to observe players with fewer minutes and start defining the list of 26 who will travel to North America.

The Albiceleste arrives in great form: it finished the South American Qualifiers at the top with 38 points, thanks to the 3-0 victory over the Vinotinto at the Monumental and the 1-0 loss to Ecuador in Guayaquil. Already qualified several rounds in advance after the memorable 4-1 against Brazil, Argentina begins a new phase focused on the Finalissima against Spain (in March) and the defense of the world title.

However, one of the uncertainties is the presence of Lionel Messi. The captain is dealing with physical fatigue after playing six matches in three weeks with Inter Miami, so Scaloni is considering resting him and giving minutes to other players. In this context, players like Nicolás Paz or Marcos Senesi might take center stage, and Giovani Lo Celso is fighting for a spot among the starters.

On the other side, Venezuela arrives shaken after being left out of the World Cup Playoff. The tough 6-3 defeat to Colombia in the last round of the Qualifiers led to the departure of Fernando “Bocha” Batista and the interim appointment of Oswaldo Vizcarrondo. The Vinotinto, which dreamed of its first qualification, will seek to recover against the world champion and show signs of renewal.

Probable lineup for Argentina: Emiliano Martínez or Gerónimo Rulli; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Marcos Senesi, Nicolás González; Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernández or Giovani Lo Celso; Nicolás Paz, Lautaro Martínez, and Julián Álvarez. Coach: Lionel Scaloni.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.