Argentina offer mixed injury updates on Lionel Messi and Alexis Mac Allister ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia

Messi hasn't played for his country since injuring his ankle in the Copa America final win over Colombia in July. That injury led to a three-month layoff, from which he returned to action with a bang, and he's now set to wear his country's colours again in Argentina's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia. However, Alexis Mac Allister is a doubt after sustaining a problem against Crystal Palace.

Even at 37, Messi remains Argentina's most important player, and his absence was felt in their most recent match - a 2-1 loss to Colombia last month that cut their lead at the top of the 2026 World Cup qualifying standings to just two points. While there's no concern about missing out on the tournament in North America, Messi's return for the upcoming fixtures is a major boost for the Albiceleste.

"Leo is fine," Scaloni said at a press conference. "He played several games before coming here. That's what he needed. He is fit and will be part of the team."

Scaloni also spoke about Alexis Mac Allister: "He is training separately. We'll see if he makes it to the first game. For now, he hasn't been able to join us, and, well, we'll make the decision if he's part of the squad or on the bench or if he plays on Thursday. But it's difficult for him to make it today. I think we have to take care of him. He's a guy who has a lot of games under his belt and that's the situation today. We hope we don't lose any more players because the situation can change later."

Messi hasn't missed a beat since returning to action with Inter Miami last month, scoring five goals in six appearances and earning a nomination for the MLS MVP award.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has always enjoyed representing his country and will likely add a couple more caps to his collection during this period. But he should be wary about making the same mistake as Cristiano Ronaldo on the international stage as he heads towards the end of his career.