Messi receives the most heartbreaking news in the Argentina national team

An important teammate of Lionel Messi in the Argentina national team is very likely to miss the upcoming training camp.

Argentina will play a series of friendly matches in October in the USA as part of their preparation for the 2026 World Cup. However, Lionel Messi is expected to be without a key teammate as Emiliano Martinez suffers a muscle issue right before a Europa League match.

In the second group stage match, Aston Villa faced Feyenoord, but Martinez unexpectedly did not play. The Argentine goalkeeper was scheduled to start, but a calf injury during warm-up forced him to withdraw just before kickoff.

Coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to announce the squad for two friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico. However, Martinez’s participation remains uncertain. The 1992-born star will undergo medical examinations to assess the injury’s severity and recovery time. If he cannot recover in time, potential replacements mentioned are Walter Benitez (Crystal Palace) and Geronimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille).

Besides the two October matches, Argentina also plans to play friendlies in the USA in June 2026 to prepare for the World Cup. The president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio Tapia, confirmed that Messi and his teammates will face Mexico and Honduras, although the exact venues have not been announced.

Tapia also added that the opponent for La Albiceleste in the March 2026 friendlies has yet to be decided, but the reigning champions’ preparation schedule for the 2026 World Cup is starting to take shape.

Regarding Messi, after confirming he will have a farewell match in his homeland, the 1987-born superstar has left open the possibility of participating in the 2026 World Cup.

Wearing the Argentina jersey, Messi has made a remarkable impact with 113 goals and 61 assists in 194 appearances. His journey has been marked not only by glorious moments but also by many hardships alongside various generations of teammates.

However, his perseverance and passion have helped him and Argentina reach the pinnacle. Messi’s extensive collection of titles with the national team includes two Copa America championships (2021, 2024), the 2022 Finalissima trophy, and notably the 2022 World Cup, a triumph that cements his legendary status not only in Argentine football but worldwide.

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