Lionel Messi will start for Argentina in Tuesday’s home friendly against Zambia, head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed. The match serves as a decisive evaluation for Argentina’s 26-man World Cup roster.
Messi came off the bench in Argentina’s 2-1 win over Mauritania last Friday - a performance Scaloni called an "alert" given Mauritania’s low FIFA ranking.
"We have to start discarding options based on performance," Scaloni said. "There is no other option."
Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, opens its 2026 campaign on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City, followed by Austria and Jordan.
Though Messi has not publicly confirmed his participation, Scaloni expressed optimism. "The important thing is that he comes and enjoys it. Everyone wants to see him play."