Messi hasn't played for his country since injuring his ankle in the Copa America final win over Colombia in July. That injury led to a three-month layoff, from which he returned to action with a bang, and he's now set to wear his country's colours again in Argentina's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia. However, Alexis Mac Allister is a doubt after sustaining a problem against Crystal Palace.
Even at 37, Messi remains Argentina's most important player, and his absence was felt in their most recent match - a 2-1 loss to Colombia last month that cut their lead at the top of the 2026 World Cup qualifying standings to just two points. While there's no concern about missing out on the tournament in North America, Messi's return for the upcoming fixtures is a major boost for the Albiceleste as for Scaloni.