Lionel Messi’s Argentina career in doubt

Interim boss Lionel Scaloni has refused to be dragged on the future of the nation’s talisman

Argentina’s interim coach Lionel Scaloni declined to be drawn on Lionel Messi’s international future.

Scaloni has left the five-time world player of the year out of his squad for up and coming friendly fixtures month from now.

Reports in Barcelona at first stated that Messi had requested to be excused from international obligations for Argentina’s four remaining friendlies of the year, starting with a trip to the United States to face Guatemala and Colombia in September.

Scaloni concedes he has addressed Messi in regards to the issue, however gave little sign concerning what it implies for what’s to come.

“I’ve talked with Messi and from that discussion I picked my squad,” said Scaloni, who assumed control from the sacked Jorge Sampaoli after Argentina’s disappointing World Cup last-16 end to possible heroes France.

“We didn’t talk about what could occur later on. We comprehend what Messi speaks to for us and we’ll see for what’s to come.”

Messi, 31, has resigned from universal obligation once before in the wake of missing a punishment in Argentina’s shoot-out annihilation by Chile, for the second year running, in the 2016 Copa America last.

The retirement barely lasted a month, before Messi returned for Argentina’s 2018 World Cup qualifying effort.