Lionel Scaloni provides Messi update ahead of Bolivia clash

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has stated and given an update on his team ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bolivia in La Paz. Argentina will face Bolivia away from home just days after beating Ecuador in a 1-0 victory thanks to a late Lionel Messi’s free-kick.

However, as the world champions landed in La Paz on Monday, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni revealed that Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi will only travel with the team and not play a part in the game due to fatigue.

“Messi is going to travel to Bolivia. Today, he trained differently, but there are still two days left until the game, and we will make the decision tomorrow whether he plays or not. The team is going to be similar to the one that played against Ecuador. “Scaloni said.

Messi was substituted in the final minutes of the 1-0 win last Thursday due to injury fears, although the player admitted he was only tired and demanded to be taken off, a statement that Scaloni reinstated.

Argentina will hope to make it two wins out of two, although the game will be played in difficult conditions in La Paz in high altitude. The Bolivians are winless in four games, with their last victory coming g against Saudi Arabia in March, while the only time they avoided defeat against Chile was in June in a goalless draw.

Incidentally, the Bolivians’ last game was a 5-1 defeat against Brazil in a game where Neymar got a brace, which saw him become Brazil’s outright record goalscorer with 79 goals.

Two other games will happen on Tuesday as Ecuador hosts Uruguay and Venezuela will face Paraguay. The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for South America on Wednesday as Chile plays versus Colombia and Brazil face Peru.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu