Lionel Messi will lead the line for Argentina in a high-profile friendly against Zambia on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that the 38-year-old will lead a full-strength side after starting from the bench in Friday’s underwhelming 2–1 win over Mauritania.
Read Also: Lionel Messi: The Greatest Footballer Of All Time
“Messi will be in the starting lineup tomorrow,” Scaloni said, signalling a return to a more familiar and settled team.
While Messi has yet to formally confirm his participation at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, Scaloni expressed confidence that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will feature in what is expected to be his sixth appearance at the tournament.
“The important thing is that he comes and enjoys being at a World Cup, which, theoretically, will be his last,” Scaloni said. “We want him to enjoy it, because later on, you really miss playing in events like these.”
Argentina are expected to field a strong core of players who powered their successful qualification campaign, as Scaloni uses the Zambia fixture as a final test before finalising his squad.
“Most of the players we know well will be playing. This will be the final test,” he added. “Later, we’ll make some changes to look at younger players, but the idea is to field our most familiar lineup.”
Scaloni has already submitted a preliminary 55-man list to the Argentine Football Association, with the final 26-man squad set to be confirmed at the end of May.
Despite the win over Mauritania, the Argentina boss admitted the performance fell below expectations, warning that places in the final squad remain open.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
