Lionel Messi is getting a much-deserved break.
Messi, the 2022 World Cup winner and seven-time Ballon d’Or winnerwill not play in Argentina’s match against Bolivia on Tuesday afternoon.
Messi was not named to the starting lineup or listed on the active roster by Argentina
Messi, however, did travel with the team and is in attendance for the 2026 World Cup qualifying match at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, Bolivia.
Messi has been on an arduous grind since joining David Beckham’s MLS team Inter Miami in late July.
Messi has appeared in 12 matches during a 48-day stretch, including scoring on a free kick in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador in World Cup qualifying last Thursday.
Messi’s participation in future Inter Miami games later this month could also be affected, too.
How did Argentina perform against Bolivia without Messi?
No Messi, no problem for the Argentine side against Bolivia.
Enzo Fernández scored in the 31st minute, and Argentina added two more goals after Bolivia’s Roberto Fernández received a red card in the 39th minute to win 3-0.
Nicolás Tagliafico scored in the 42nd minute, while Nicolás González scored in the 83rd minute for Argentina as Bolivia played the second half with 10 players.
How to watch Argentina vs. Bolivia match today?
The Argentina-Bolivia match is set for 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on Tuesday and available on Telemundo, UNIVERSO and TUDN USA.
What is Messi’s upcoming Inter Miami schedule?
Messi is expected to return to Inter Miami before its next match against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sept. 16. But his participation could be limited in the match.
Inter Miami also has four more games in a 10-day stretch to wrap the month of September, with three home matches at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida – where Messi could either come off the bench or leave matches early depending on his participation.
Inter Miami will host Toronto on Sept. 20 and visit Orlando City on Sept. 24, and host the New York City FC on Sept. 30. Inter Miami will also host the U.S. Open Cup final against Houston on Sept. 27.
Messi already missed Inter Miami’s 3-2 victory against Sporting Kansas City last Saturday at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. That win helped Miami’s late-season playoff push.
Messi has led Inter Miami to a 10-1-0 (win-draw-loss) record with 11 goals scored.
How Leo Messi was trending toward getting some rest
Messi, the 36-year-old soccer great, did not practice with his Argentina teammates Monday, according to the Associated Press.
Considering Messi’s recent stretch of games — playing 12 consecutive matches for MLS’ Inter Miami before flying overseas — fatigue was the reason he asked to be pulled just before the 89th minute during the Argentina qualifying match.
“Leo was tired the other day and asked to be substituted,” Scaloni said. “But it’s not needed that we speak to him before matches. We see as it goes.”
His playing fate was decided hours before Tuesday’s match at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, Bolivia, as Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni alluded to in a press conference Sunday.
How did Leo Messi perform in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Ecuador?
Messi delivered in a big way for fans in his home country last week.
Messi – playing in his first game with Argentina since the 2022 World Cup final – scored a free kick in the 78th minute to lead Argentina to a 1-0 win over Ecuador at Estadio Más Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Messi scored in patented fashion, his left boot finding the left side of the net and leaving Ecuadorian goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez cowering down to one knee after the score.
How will Argentina fare in 2026 World Cup qualifying?
Argentina is expected to reach the World Cup again.
Argentina has three points in Conmebol qualifying, following its win over Ecuador. Ecuador ends the match with minus-three points.
Due to the World Cup expansion for 2026, six South American teams will qualify directly for the World Cup. A seventh team will play in the FIFA playoff tournament.
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada and expanding to a 48-team format.
Relive Messi’s World Cup title with Argentina
Messi was spectacular, scoring two goals and his penalty kick, to help Argentina outduel a hat trick from superstar Kylian Mbappe and France 3-3 (4-2 penalty kicks) in the 2022 World Cup final last December.
Messi was awarded the Golden Ball, given to the best player in the tournament, in what is considered the greatest World Cup final of all-time.
Will Messi play for Argentina again in the World Cup?
It’s unclear whether Messi, 36, will play for Argentina in the 2024 Copa America and the 2026 World Cup or will retire from national team competition before then.
“Even I don’t know when. It’ll happen when it happens,” Messi said when asked about retiring during an interview broadcast on Argentine television in July. “After winning everything I want to enjoy the moment and wait for time to tell me when it’s the moment.
“Logically, given my age, one would expect it to be soon, but I don’t know for sure.”
While Messi’s World Cup final was expected to be his last World Cup game, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said in January “the door will always be open” for the country’s biggest star.
