Why Leo Messi didn't play: Lionel Scaloni explains | OneFootball

The Argentine National Team's 1-0 victory over Venezuela in a friendly match did not feature Lionel Messi on the field, but he was present in the stands of the Hard Rock Stadium. The reason the "Pulga" (Messi's nickname) was not part of the action was due to a decision by the coach, Lionel Scaloni, although he was allowed to attend the match with his family to closely follow the game.

The reason behind the absence of the Number Ten is that the coaching staff prioritized giving him rest, due to the overload of matches he participated in with Inter Miami over the past month, which amounted to seven games in just 27 days. Additionally, this series of matches included long trips to New York and Toronto, which are of particular importance as they marked the end of the regular MLS season, with the Herons already out of the race for the Supporters' Shield, but seeking the best possible position in the playoffs.

Before the match, Scaloni had confirmed that Messi would not be part of the action and explained his reasons: "We have spoken with him, these are matches to test and see, but we will talk and decide with him. I would like to try different alternatives because these matches are for that." Thus, the captain stayed in the stands, and the coach's stance was reaffirmed in his post-match press conference: "He didn't play because I decided so."

Nevertheless, the captain of the Albiceleste was present at the Miami stadium with his family. There, from one of the boxes, he closely followed the action, sipping mate and paying attention to what was happening with his teammates, who secured the victory thanks to Giovani Lo Celso's goal in the first half.

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