Argentina Vs Zambia: Messi Uncertain as Scaloni Confirms Squad for Friendlies
argentina vs zambia will be one of Argentina’s March friendlies with Lionel Messi named in the squad but undecided on whether he will play at the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Scaloni says. Scaloni has confirmed Messi will feature in both warm-up matches scheduled for March 27, ET and April 1, ET at home venues including La Bombonera. The coach framed the issue as the player’s choice, stressing physical and mental readiness.
Scaloni confirms Messi will play; decision on World Cup rests with player
Lionel Scaloni, Argentina head coach, said Messi remains undecided about World Cup participation but that he will include him in the upcoming friendlies. “This is a question more for him but as far as I’m concerned, you already know what I think. I will do everything I can to make sure he is there, ” Scaloni said, naming Messi in the squads for the matches on March 27, ET and April 1, ET. Scaloni added: “I want him to be there, but he’s the one who decides. He has earned the right to decide calmly. “
Lionel Messi, forward for Inter Miami and Argentina, is 38 and has said he will assess his prospects “day-to-day”. Messi said of the World Cup: “It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup, and I would love to. I’m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start pre-season next year with Inter [Miami] and see if I can really be 100 per cent, if I can be useful and then make a decision. “
Argentina Vs Zambia: match details and in-game notes
The match billed as Argentina’s home meeting with Zambia at La Bombonera will mark the first time the two nations meet there. Early match action included a goal that put Argentina 1-0, with Julián Álvarez scoring from the centre of the box following an assist from Thiago Almada, and a free kick won by Enzo Fernández in the attacking half. Match play also recorded a corner conceded by David Simukonda and a handball by Kingstone Mutandwa during the sequence.
Zambia arrives having won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 but experiencing mixed results since, and the squad led by Moses Sichone exited the most recent AFCON at the group stage. The friendly was arranged after the cancellation of a previously scheduled fixture tied to La Finalissima when the conflict in Iran forced that match off the calendar; Argentina opened this rearranged March slate with a 2-1 win over Mauritania.
What happens next — eyes on player choices and the World Cup build-up
Attention now turns to how Lionel Messi, Lionel Scaloni and the Argentina setup manage minutes in the March friendlies and the run-in to the World Cup, which begins on June 17, ET in Kansas City. Scaloni made clear he will not rush Messi and that the final call on World Cup participation is the player’s to make. The Argentina camp will monitor fitness, minutes and mental readiness through the March 27, ET and April 1, ET matches; any changes to the plan will come as assessments conclude.
The Argentina squad will use the Argentina vs zambia friendly and the other scheduled warm-up to finalise selections and manage playing time ahead of the tournament window that opens June 17, ET. Expect official updates on availability and minutes as the team completes the friendlies and enters the final preparation phase.
