Reigning FIFA World Cup champions Argentina will take on Indonesia at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Monday’s international friendly, however La Albiceleste will be missing talisman Lionel Messi, who was given an extra time off by his head coach Lionel Scaloni ahead of his impending move to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
Alongside Messi, both Angel Di Maria and Nicholas Otamendi were also set to miss out Monday’s friendly, the duo having been given extra time off by Scaloni as well.
Journalist Gaston Edul, a figure closely associated with Messi and the Argentina national team, first broke the news of Messi’s absence from the squad set to face Indonesia this week.
“It’s not because Messi doesn’t like Indonesia. He actually wants to come to Indonesia as well,” said Edul, as quoted from Bolasport, “But in reality he’s really tired and could need some rest.”
Indeed, along with winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Messi had underwent a grueling 2022/23 campaign with Paris Saint-Germain, winning the Ligue 1 in his final season with the Parisians while being knocked out of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 by Bayern Munich. Realizing that his star man deserved some R & R after a tough season, Scaloni decided to allow him to leave the Argentina squad early after their friendly against Australia on Thursday.
Taking on the Socceroos at Beijing, China, Argentina ran out 2-0 winners with Messi playing the full 90 minutes, scoring the match’s opening goal in the 2nd minute.
Messi’s extra rest is also needed to ensure that he would remain fit for his contract signing with Inter Miami, which will be held in the near future.
Despite being disappointed by Messi’s absence, Indonesian football fans will still be treated by Argentina’s other heavy hitters, such as Emiliano Martinez, Alejandro Garnacho, Lucas Ocampos, Thiago Almada, Enzo Fernandez, and Alexis Mac Allister, as well as Gonzalo Montiel, the man who scored the penalty that won Argentina the World Cup.