Argentina reportedly not planning to call up Lionel Messi for upcoming WCup qualifiers
The Argentina national team authorities are reportedly not planning to call up the teams talisman, Lionel Messi for the upcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup's CONMEBOL qualifiers, considering that the La Albiceleste have already qualified for the showpiece event.
Argentina are scheduled to face Chile and Colombia, with TyC Sports claiming that the La Albiceleste manager, Lionel Scaloni has proposed that Messi miss the two games in order to avoid the wear and tear of the fixtures and travel as the 34-year-old tested positive for COVID-19 and would like the extra time to recover.
The report goes on to state that Messi has asked for a few more days to make his decision on whether he will decide to participate in the World Cup qualifiers - though the consensus remains that it would be better off to give the player time-off.
There's a possibility that Lionel Messi does not get called up to the Argentina team this month. There was a talk between Messi and the coaching staff with Scaloni's idea being to rest Messi and not call him. Messi has asked for a few days to decide. This via TyC.
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) January 6, 2022
This news would be welcomed by Paris Saint-Germain, who have in the past criticised Argentina's decision to call up Messi as they feel that it has hampered the strikers adaptation to life at the club and in Paris.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or award winner is yet to shine for PSG as he has managed to score only one goal in 11 appearances in the Ligue 1, though he has been brilliant in the Champions League - netting five goals in five games so far.