The Shocking Reason Lionel Messi Is Missing from Argentina’s Lineup Against Venezuela Revealed!

This Friday night, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami will host a much-anticipated friendly as Argentina squares off against Venezuela. Yet, here’s the twist that’s stirring quite the buzz: Lionel Messi won’t be donning the national colors for this fixture. Yep, you read that right—Messi’s out of the squad entirely, not even warming a bench. Head coach Lionel Scaloni’s decision comes without a detailed explanation, though he hinted at wanting to explore new attacking options during the international break. Considering this is just a friendly match and Messi’s recent physical niggles, it’s a smart call to rest the maestro—especially with Inter Miami pushing hard toward the climax of the MLS season and needing their star fit as a fiddle. So, who’s stepping into Messi’s enormous shoes? The spotlight likely falls on rising talents like Nicolas Paz, backed by solid Serie A performances, alongside Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. This game isn’t just a tune-up; it’s a chance to reimagine Argentina’s offensive gears. Intrigued? LEARN MORE

This Friday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, against Venezuela, Argentina will play the first of two friendly matches scheduled during the October international break in the United States. But despite the excitement this match generates among fans, Lionel Messi will not be part of the team.

Lionel Scaloni has chosen to leave Messi out of the squad, meaning he won’t be in the starting XI or even on the bench. The head coach didn’t offer a concrete explanation for the decision, but during Thursday’s press conference, he did acknowledge that he would speak with the forward when finalizing the lineup and that his intention was to test other options in the team.

Because the match against Venezuela is only a friendly, there is no urgent need for Messi to play, as he typically does for Argentina. In addition, given his recent physical issues, taking extra precautions to avoid unnecessary strain is seen as the sensible approach.

Connected to this is the situation with Inter Miami. The club is approaching the decisive phase of the 2025 Major League Soccer season, with only two regular-season games remaining before the playoffs begin. Under these circumstances, they need Messi healthy more than ever.

Who is replacing Messi for Argentina?

While Lionel Messi’s impact on the field is undeniable, Argentina have a number of players with similar traits who can step into the creative role in the attack. That makes Friday’s game an ideal opportunity for Scaloni to experiment with these alternatives.

Nicolas Paz will probably get the chance to start in the position Messi typically occupies. The young midfielder earned this opportunity thanks to his impressive performances with Como 1907 in Serie A. He will be joined in the front three by Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.

Argentina’s projected starting lineup to face Venezuela this Friday in Miami is: Geronimo Rulli; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Marcos Senesi, Nicolas Gonzalez; Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso; Nicolas Paz, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez.

* Developing story