Barcelona star Lionel Messi set to return to international football with Argentina after break
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner will be called up by Lionel Scaloni for the upcoming internationals against Venezuela and Morocco
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Your support makes all the difference.Lionel Messi is set to end his international exile and return to the Argentina squad this week, The Independent understands.
The FC Barcelona superstar has given the football federation in his homeland the nod to include him in the squad for the upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco, though he is expected to play in just one of those games.
Messi has not featured for Argentina since they were eliminated from the World Cup on a baking hot afternoon in Kazan . France were 4-3 victors on the day and would go on to win the final in Moscow, but Messi has been left out of every Argentina squad since that tournament in Russia.
Having skipped six games, however, Messi is ready to return with the Copa America in sight this summer.
The Copa holds special significance for Messi, having played in the tournament four times and ending up as a losing finalist in three of those - including back-to-back penalty shootout defeats to Chile.
Now 31, Messi will be looking to right the wrongs of the past with a victorious campaign in Brazil during the upcoming off-season.
Argentina's friendlies this month are one of the final times that Scaloni will have his squad together to prepare. The Albiceleste are due to play Venezuela at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano stadium on March 22 before a trip across the Strait of Gibraltar to take on Morocco in Tangiers. It is expected that Messi will play no part in the latter fixture, due to take place on March 26.
Barcelona are set to play cross-town rivals Espanyol days later in La Liga and Messi, now 31, is conscious of overloading his body with excessive friendly action.
Scaloni had said in January that he planned to talk to Messi and incorporate him back into the squad for the March friendlies.
"We will speak with Leo in the days before the March list. When the time is right we will speak... I hope he can be here but more than that, we want him to be happy. I have a good feeling."
There remains a small chance that Barcelona's physios could keep Messi from joining Argentina after some recent niggles, but 'the flea' has decided to return to the national team for the Copa America and has every intention of joining up with the squad in March, injury-permitting.
The Independent has contacted Messi's advisors for comment.
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