The ARGENTINE SELECTION Face this Tuesday to Ecuador In the Monumental Stadium in Guayaquil, at the close of the qualifiers towards World Cup 2026. But the news is the absence of Lionel Messithe captain and maximum figure of the team.
Last Thursday, Messi started and marked a double in the 3-0 victory over Venezuela in the Monumental. However, after the game, Rosarino himself confirmed that, after a talk with Lionel Scaloni, They both decided what would not be part of the squad For the last meeting of the series.
The reasons behind Messi’s absence
The decision has logic if the context looks: Messi, 38, drags several muscle discomfort Throughout the year, which forced him to lose games both in the Inter Miami as in the selection. In addition, he came from playing the final of the CUP Leagues with the herons just four days before the duel against Venezuela.
If he played today in Ecuador, the captain had added his third game in just ten days, a rhythm that could put his physique at risk. That’s why, Next to the coaching staff, they chose to preserve it.
They decided to take care of Lionel Messi (Photo: EFE).
Another key fact: Argentina is already classified to the World Cup and secured first place in the tableso the match against the TRI has no weight in the definition. In addition, the meeting is played in Guayaquil, far from the Argentine public. Therefore, the duel against Venezuela served as Messi’s farewell to the fans in the Monumental, since, unless the calendar will change, he will not officially play in the country before the World Cup.
Also read: Who will be the 10 of the Argentine National Team against Lionel Messi’s loss
The year of Messi with the selection: presences and absences
So far from 2025, the National Team played five games and Messi was in three. His debut was against Chile (Victoria 1-0), entering 57 minutes by Nico Paz. Then he started against Colombia (1-1 draw) and was replaced at 78 by Exequiel Palacios. The last was the triumph against Venezuela, where he scored his first two goals of the year with the Albiceleste shirt.
In contrast, Messi was absent in the victory against Uruguay in Montevideo and in the 4-1 win to Brazil in the Monumental.
Messi’s impressive numbers with the selection
Lionel Messi is the top historical scorer of the Argentine National Teamwith 114 goals in 190 games. His first goal was on March 1, 2006, in a friendly against Croatia in Switzerland.
According to the AFA2022 was his most scorer, with 18 goals. In 2012, he scored 12. Of his 114 goals, 49 were in friendlies, 36 in qualifiers, 17 in Copa América and 13 in World Cups. Bolivia is the rival who scored the most, with 11 goals.
Con Lionel Scaloni As coach, Messi shouted 49 times. The second DT with the most goals of the captain was Alejandro Sabellacon 25.
Ten is taken care tonight to Ecuador (Photo: Reuters).
Historical scorers table of the Argentine National Team
- Lionel Messi – 114 goals
- Gabriel Batistuta – 54
- Sergio Agüero – 42
- Hernán Crespo – 35
- Lautaro Martínez – 33
- Diego Maradona – 32
- Gonzalo Higuaín – 31
- Angel Di María – 30
- Luis Artime – 24
- Daniel Passarella – 23