The Argentina national football team secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Venezuela in a friendly match held on Friday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Notably, the team played without Lionel Messi, who attended the game alongside his family.
Match Overview
Coach Lionel Scaloni explained the decision to rest Messi, stating he wanted to evaluate other players like Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez. Scaloni mentioned, “We wanted to try Lautaro and Julian; it was a valid option.”
Key Players and Goals
Giovani Lo Celso scored the only goal of the match, utilizing a connection with Lautaro Martínez to find the net. Argentina displayed significant dominance, recording 19 shots, with 11 hitting the target against their South American opponents.
Upcoming Matches and Player Availability
When questioned about Messi’s availability for the next friendly against Puerto Rico on October 14, Scaloni remained optimistic. He said, “Let’s hope Messi can be there on Tuesday.”
Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s teammate at Inter Miami, started the match on the bench and substituted for Julián Álvarez in the second half.
Inter Miami’s Take on Messi
Inter Miami’s head coach, Javier Mascherano, expressed excitement about the possibility of seeing Messi play in an upcoming MLS match against Atlanta United. This match is scheduled for the following day after Argentina’s friendly.
- Mascherano mentioned, “I’d love it. Imagine being able to have Leo Messi.”
- However, he clarified he had not discussed Messi’s involvement with him.
Even though Inter Miami has already qualified for the 2025 MLS playoffs, the team is focused on improving their standings in the Eastern Conference to ensure home-field advantage during the playoffs.
Injury Updates
Argentina’s squad faced a setback as Franco Mastantuono will miss the rest of their training camp due to a left thigh injury.
