Lionel Messi explains Argentina's rare ‘ugly’ performance & reveals why return to international football was delayed after unfortunate Copa America final injury

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has returned to the Albiceleste fold after recovering from the unfortunate ankle injury that he picked up in the 2024 Copa America final. Said problem forced him to sit out several matches for MLS employers Inter Miami.

Messi was recalled by Argentina for the latest round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but was unable to inspire another victory as Lionel Scaloni’s side were held to a 1-1 draw in Venezuela – with said contest being delayed by a torrential rain storm.

Testing conditions made the pitch Messi and Co were gracing almost unplayable, with the all-time great telling TyC Sports of why the resulting contest was far from being easy on the eye: "It was very difficult, it makes for very ugly matches. We could not complete two passes in a row. In the second half we did it on the right a little more, but it is difficult to play like that. Very little football is played.

"We tied because the field didn’t help us do what we wanted, we had to do another game than the one prepared for. But we were prepared because we fought, won the battles, played with the error of the rival. We couldn’t risk much by playing with passes to the back. In the first half we made a couple passes to the back and the water would stop it, and complicated it. We did the game we could with the water."

Messi has also revealed why he sat out Argentina’s last two games against Chile and Colombia in September, with the 37-year-old only recently being cleared to play again: "The wait was long. I was out for a long time, I missed a lot of games with my club. I'm happy to be back, to continue having continuity and to be here again. I hadn't played for a long time, I hadn't trained much. I wasn't 100 per cent physically, my ankle was bothering me. We decided that I shouldn’t be there, that it was best for me to stay and train and finish getting well."

Messi has picked up the 46th trophy of his record-breaking career since returning to fitness – as Inter Miami prepare to enter the MLS Cup play-offs as Supporters’ Shield winners and No.1 seeds. Before returning to Florida, Messi has a meeting with Bolivia to contend with next Tuesday.