Messi trains normally and travels to Peru: will he start?

Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentina national team, hosts a new working meeting this Sunday at the AFA facility named after him, focusing on the next matches of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup , this match will be against Peru, Lime this Tuesday.

The Albiceleste No. 10 is making progress in his recovery after missing a month of football due to an old right hamstring injury.

He works with the national team, starting in the gym and then on to the playing field, doing tactical work with the ball, less football and without opponents.

Messi, who played the last 38 minutes of last Thursday’s win over Paraguay (1-0) at the Estadio Monument and started on the bench, was agreed with the players by head coach Lionel Scaloni .

The star felt satisfactory on the pitch without any trace of pain, although his pace was cautious in order to avoid sudden exertions that could send him back to his original position.

The 2022 Qatar World Cup winner, who played against Paraguay, has played just 37 minutes against Toronto and 35 minutes against Cincinnati since his last appearance for Argentina and ended the season on September 7 A goal declared victory for Ecuador (1-0). Free kick.

That night at the Estadio Monument, Messi left before regular time with a slight discomfort, which is why he won’t sign the squad for La Paz’s next game against Bolivia.

The pain worsened during his first game against Inter Miami on Sept. 21, and he has since missed the last four games, including the U.S. Open final where his team lost to the Houston Dynamo.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will once again increase his playing time at the Estadio Nacional in Lima as part of his gradual recovery plan, but it remains to be seen whether he will be a starter or a substitute again.

The technical director and players will discuss the decision again during Monday’s training session, which is scheduled to last 10 minutes, with the first 15 minutes open to the media.

At noon, Scaloni will speak at a press conference and inform the news, before flying to Lima at 4 p.m. and expected to arrive at 8 p.m.

The 36-year-old Messi will visit the Peruvian capital for the fourth time and remains unbeaten in the South American World Cup qualifiers with 2 draws and 1 win.

The first tour was to Lima Memorial Stadium (1-1) on 10 September 2008, directed by Alfio Basile, en route to South Africa in 2010; 11 September 2012 , he appeared at the National Stadium in the Alejandro Sabella cycle before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil (1-1), and the last time on the same stage he achieved his only victory in charge ( 2-0). By Scaroni, November 17, 2020.

On 6 October 2016, Leo was absent due to injury during a 2-2 draw with the Inca nation, while the national team was competing with “el Patón” Edgardo Bauza to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Argentina clearly overwhelmed Peru with a record of 34 wins, 14 draws and 5 losses. The last time Peru defeated Albiceleste was at the 1997 Copa America in Bolivia (2-1).

The world champions won three games in the qualifying round and emerged as leaders with an ideal result (nine points), while Juan Reynoso’s team did the opposite: they occupied the penultimate position with just one point, And failed to score a goal in this game. Take away from the competition.

The match will be played at 11pm on Tuesday at the Estadio Nacional de Argentina, with VAR arbitration between Venezuelan Jesus Valenzuela and Colombian Nicolas Gallo.

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