Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has explained why his captain Lionel Messi did not play in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying win over Bolivia on Tuesday night.
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The 36-year-old was not even named among the substitutes as the Albiceleste beat Bolivia 3-0 at the Estadio Hernando Siles, a stadium that famously sits at 3 637m above sea level.
Messi, named among the 30 nominees for the 2023 Ballon d'Or, is believed to have hardly trained ahead of the encounter due to a fitness issue, after he came off late on in their qualifying victory over Ecuador last week.
Speaking after his team's latest win, Scaloni admitted he and his coaching staff did not want to "risk" the Inter Miami No. 10.
"Leo was not ready to play," he said, according to the Daily Mail.
"Yesterday he tried to recover and he did not feel comfortable. We did not risk it.
"It was not necessary because important things are coming."
Goals from Enzo Fernandes, Nicolas Tagliafico and Nicolas Gonzalez helped the world champions to three points in Bolivia.
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Argentina and Brazil currently lead CONMEBOL's qualifying standing with six points, with Colombia in third place on four points.
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