NEW DELHI: Lionel Messi was notably absent from Argentina's recent practice session on the eve of their World Cup qualifying match against Bolivia.
Messi left Argentina's game against Ecuador last week, citing fatigue. This development has raised questions about coach Lionel Scaloni's lineup choices for the upcoming match in La Paz, where the altitude reaches 3,000 meters, posing a significant challenge for the players.
During the team's training session on Monday, Messi observed from a chair close to coach Scaloni. The training was essential for players to acclimatize to the high altitude and the resulting increase in the speed of the ball, a feature that often hinders visiting teams' performance in Bolivia.
Coach Scaloni did not provide any hints during the practice session regarding his plans if Messi is unable to participate. He has also not ruled out the possibility of making a decision on Messi's availability just hours before the match.
Bolivia faced a challenging 5-1 defeat against Brazil in their opening game of South American qualifying last week. Argentina, in contrast, secured a 1-0 home victory against Ecuador, with Messi scoring a crucial free-kick goal.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will feature a 48-team format. In South America, the top six teams will earn direct qualification, while the seventh-place team will engage in an intercontinental playoff for another spot at the finals.
Messi's potential absence on Tuesday could disappoint many Bolivians, including numerous local fans who eagerly welcomed him to the country on Sunday evening. In a gesture of admiration, La Paz's city hall sponsored a sign near the stadium with the Spanish inscription, "Sos grande Messi" (You're great, Messi). However, this decision faced criticism from Mayor Ivan Arias.
Despite his exceptional career, Messi has yet to score a goal in La Paz. However, he boasts eight goals in 11 matches against Bolivia. If he does participate and score on Tuesday, he will surpass Uruguay's Luis Suarez as the all-time leading goal scorer in South American World Cup qualifying.
(With AP inputs)
