Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni has suggested that Lionel Messi will likely be a substitute in Sunday's friendly against Ecuador at Chicago's Soldier Field to ensure the player remains healthy for the Copa America.
“People will be able to see Messi tomorrow. I'm sure he will play for a while. We are going to think carefully about the minutes that each one will have to be healthy for the debut,” Scaloni said in his pre-match press conference.
“I imagine Messi will play, I don't know if the whole game, 30 minutes, 60, whatever. But people go for that to be able to see what is most important.”
The Inter Miami star last played for Argentina as a substitute on October 12, 2023, coming off the bench in the 1-0 win against Paraguay at Argentina's Estadio Monumental.
Without Messi, Scaloni could choose to start with Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez leading the attack. However, the coach maintained that the starting 11 has not yet been determined while he continues to evaluate players.
“I don't have the team yet, especially because I have to evaluate the six changes we have to make,” said Scaloni, who led Argentina to victory in the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup.
But fans attending Sunday's friendly are unlikely to see Real Betis defender Germán Pezzella on the pitch, after the coach confirmed his physical condition will continue to be assessed before Argentina open the Copa América against Canada on the 20th. of June.
“The German Pezzella could not train this week. On Monday we will evaluate his situation.”
Argentina has not yet announced its final squad of 26 players for the Copa América, waiting until these friendlies to make the final cuts.
