Lionel Messi’s Shocking Absence: What This Injury Could Mean for Argentina’s US Tour and Beyond
Atletico Madrid need Almada
After spending more than $45 million to sign Almada this summer, Atletico Madrid placed high expectations on him. His performances with Atlanta United in Major League Soccer and Botafogo in Brazil justified the investment. But it was his standout play for Argentina that elevated his reputation to star status.
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Argentina National Team TV Schedule
With that in mind, Almada is expected to play a major role for the Spanish side during the most demanding stretch of the season, both domestically and in Europe. From that perspective, the decision not to travel with the Argentina national team is welcome news for Atletico Madrid, who want him fully fit for their most critical upcoming fixture: a Champions League showdown against Arsenal on October 21.
What are Argentina’s options without Almada?
This year, Argentina have had to play several matches without Lionel Messi, who missed key fixtures due to injury. In those instances, head coach Lionel Scaloni turned to Thiago Almada — and the midfielder delivered strong performances against Uruguay, Brazil, and Colombia.
October will be a different story. Messi is available for the upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico, while Almada will be out. However, Scaloni still has plenty of options to fill the gap. Enzo Fernandez returns after serving a suspension in September, and other possibilities include Nicolas Paz, Giovani Lo Celso, and Franco Mastantuono.
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