CARACAS: Lionel is fit enough to play in ’s qualifiers this week in spite of having played less than half an hour this season for his new club, the coach said on Wednesday.
"After talking with him I have no doubts," Scaloni told reporters the day before Argentina face Venezuela in Caracas.
"Although he doesn’t have the same game time (he had with Barcelona) he is going toplay and we hope in all three games.”
Messi has not played a full match since July 10, when he started for Argentina in the Copa America final.
Much of his time since has been dominated by his move to Paris after 18 years with Barcelona.
Pele is the all time top scorer in South America with 77 goals, Messi is 2nd with 76.
The 34-year-old made his PSG debut on Sunday when he came on as a substitute against Reims and played 24 minutes in the 2-0 win.
He trained with Argentina on Wednesday ahead of their three qualifiers. The twice world champions also play Brazil in Sao Paulo on Sept. 5 and Bolivia in Buenos Aires on Sept 9.
They sit in second place behind Brazil in the 10-team South American qualifying group with the top four sides qualifying automatically for Qatar 2022.
Scaloni lauded the players who came from England in spite of a controversial move by clubs to stop them traveling.
The League said its clubs would not release players called up for international duty if they are playing matches in a country on the UK’s red list but two Aston Villa players
and two who play for Tottenham Hotspur made themselves available for the key qualifiers.
Aston Villa said their players, Emiliano Buendia and Emiliano Martinez, would fly home before the third game in order to miss fewer Premier League matches.
Scaloni, however, refuted the club’s statement.
"We gave the list for three games and the players are here to play all three," he said.
"We never heard a negative (response), we have spoken and discussed it with most of the clubs and we reached the conclusion that they had to come," Scaloni added.
ClemJay
760
And Cristiano Ronaldo is all time international top scorer with 111 goals
SH3012
696
Yesterday,The GOAT Broke a record. Today, Another GOAT will break another record.
Brightberry
612
Remember 1 thing, Messi was not a Barcelona player when he won an International trophy.
RAKIZAR
594
messi after Ronaldo just broke a record
Mosanya
517
Messi is only 2 goals away from breaking the most goals scored in south america . A record previously held by pele . These are messi prop hours 🐐
SIDKAUSH
504
U can overtake Pele, but I don't think u will reach CR7. Best of luck anyways
Nandha77
436
Today Ronaldo Break the Record.. Tomorrow Messi Break the Record.. JUST GOAT THINGS 🐐...
pulkit_10
422
one is all time international top scorer one is all time international top assister who said the GOATS are finished 🐐🐐
pulkit_10
393
god willing messi will overtake pele tomorrow
Brightberryy
281
I was in math class and we were learning geometry. My teacher said "PENTAGON" then all of a sudden a man bursted into the room and screamed “SUIII” IT WAS P€NALD0 He thought we were talking about PENS! Security were called quickly. Sh@me on you P€nald0 for ruining my education..
IBRAHIMLM10
135
Lionel andres Messi ( The most complete player ever in the history of football )❤RESPECT❤
fembmnprz
16
U can overtake Pele, but I don't think u will reach CR7. Best of luck anyways
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the reason is simple, Ronaldo has played more international games than messi
cr7isdefogoat
15
with 75 penalty
Dhruv0010
14
who even care about Shitta America
Who cares about ur opinion 🙄
Neobdklno
14
with 75 penalty
messi has more international penalties mate
Naveenraj222
13
Remember 1 thing, Messi was not a Barcelona player when he won an International trophy.
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Remember one thing Ronaldo was not a Man united player when he won the euros.
OnePunchMan00007
10
I was in math class and we were learning geometry. My teacher said "PENTAGON" then all of a sudden a man bursted into the room and screamed “SUIII” IT WAS P€NALD0 He thought we were talking about PENS! Security were called quickly. Sh@me on you P€nald0 for ruining my education..
You need a serious psychiatric check up Son. Either you were born this way or your parents are mentally retarded!!
Retcmnpu
10
And Cristiano Ronaldo is all time international top scorer with 111 goals
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Everyone know.So,what?
Rudabceksz
9
And Cristiano Ronaldo is all time international top scorer with 111 goals
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Catch me if you can. 0 international golden balls 🤡💩
Legend5489
9
Comment to seek like 🤒😏
wait then what do you constantly do[Crylaugh]
AkshayPrem
9
so what
messi plays as an attacking midfielder or as a winger for argentina...if u watch messi's match u can understand.....that is why he has 53 assists..u cant just judge him only on the basis of goals
Legend5489
8
no,i said thousand of times,i have no interest in gaining likes. at least I don't use multiple accounts to like my comments🙄
lol nice one
KingJerryTheGreat
8
And Cristiano Ronaldo is all time international top scorer with 111 goals
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Indeed he is 👍❤️
myklm
8
Remember 1 thing, Messi was not a Barcelona player when he won an International trophy.
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who even care about Shitta America