Argentina confirm Messi will start against Zambia

Lionel Messi is set to return to Argentina’s starting lineup as the reigning world champions fine-tune preparations for their World Cup title defence with a friendly against Zambia on Tuesday.

The match marks Argentina’s final appearance on home soil before they head into the global showpiece, placing added significance on both performance and selection.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that the 38-year-old captain will start after being left on the bench in last week’s underwhelming 2-1 victory over Mauritania. That result raised questions about Argentina’s rhythm, but Scaloni is expected to restore his trusted core, with Messi central to the plan as the team seeks a more convincing display.

“Messi will be in the starting lineup tomorrow,” Scaloni said, underlining the importance of re-establishing cohesion ahead of the tournament. The veteran forward remains pivotal despite ongoing uncertainty over whether he will feature at what could be his sixth World Cup. While Messi has not formally declared his intentions, he played a key role throughout Argentina’s qualification campaign, reinforcing expectations that he will be part of the squad.

Scaloni hinted strongly that this tournament could represent the final chapter of Messi’s remarkable international career. “The important thing is that he comes and enjoys being at a World Cup – which, theoretically, will be his last,” he said, emphasising the emotional weight attached to the occasion for both player and nation.

Tuesday’s fixture is expected to feature a largely settled lineup, with Scaloni prioritising familiarity and balance after the disjointed display against Mauritania. “Most of the players we know well will be playing. This will be the final test,” he explained, suggesting that experimentation will be limited before the final squad is confirmed.

Argentina have already submitted a preliminary 55-man squad, with the final 26-player selection due at the end of May. Scaloni acknowledged that places remain open, warning that recent performances have placed added pressure on established names to maintain their standards.

“I have the list pretty well figured out,” he said, “but if performance levels aren’t up to par, we’ll take measures to ensure we bring the absolute best squad possible.”