By Daily Sports on January 20, 2022
Lionel Messi has been left off Argentina's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia to allow the forward to rebuild his match fitness at Paris Saint-Germain as he recovers from COVID-19.
With Argentina having already qualified for the World Cup, head coach Lionel Scaloni announced his 27-man squad Wednesday, leaving Messi at home in Paris.
The Argentina captain tested positive for COVID-19 during the Christmas holidays and returned to Paris from his native Rosario with a negative test Jan. 5.
Messi, 34, said in an Instagram post last week that it took him "much longer" to recover from coronavirus than he expected.
PSG sporting director Leonardo criticised Scaloni in November for selecting Messi for the last international window, arguing the forward was not fit to play for the team after having previously missed several games with knee and hamstring pains.
Scaloni responded, saying he understood PSG's frustrations over Messi's busy calendar but adding that his national team had a right to call up the player. (BBC)
Source Daily Sports
Posted January 19, 2022
You may also like...
Rooney remains Manchester United captain – Mourinho
AFCON qualifiers: Nigerian fans worried as Eagles face...
Vidal Lands In Milan To Complete Move From...
Totti begins coaching career
Man Utd Fans Threaten Boycott Of Club Sponsors...
MKO Abiola Stadium to Host Super Eagles’ Matches...
Lookman skips training to force Atalanta exit
Okowa confident of World Champs relay tickets
1990 World Cup winner Frank Mill dies at 67 after heart attack
CHAN: Eagles B ready for Senegal, says Chelle
Tinubu gifts D’Tigress $100k each, flats, OON
Wakama eyes endless AfroBasket reign with D’Tigress
D’Tigress, Falcons’ road to continental glory
Golden Debut: Cyclist Grace Osaretin Sets Sights On Youth Olympic Glory
Look at Dessers: Rangers boss slams players
Gala target €21.5m from Osimhen fan box sales
Nwankwo, Ezechukwu dominate African Schools 100m
Obi hails D’Tigress after historic fifth AfroBasket title
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (55,614 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,789 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,787 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,374 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,373 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,356 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,174 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,727 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,822 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,441 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,872 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,307 views)