Lionel Messi spoke about Argentina’s 1-1 draw vs. Venezuela.

Messi was back with the Argentina national team and started against Venezuela after missing the two matches in September. The Argentine spoke to the media after the 1-1 draw. Here is what he had to say:

“The wait to return to playing was long as I spent a long time off the pitch and missed national team matches but I’m happy to be back.

“It makes me happy to go back playing in Argentina on Tuesday. Now we have a long trip back, then a few days to rest and prepare for the match at home.

“The pitch didn’t help us execute what we wanted to do. We didn’t prepare the match this way but we were ready to compete for the second ball and look for a mistake from the opponent.

“I’m happy that I can continue playing and be here again. Honestly, it was very difficult to play this way. The match was very ugly and full of complications.”

With the match delayed by 30 minutes due to heavy rain on the pitch, Argentina and Venezuela would draw 1-1 in a match that was played on a very sloppy pitch.

Venezuela took several efforts on goal in the first half but Gerónimo Rulli made several saves to deny the hosts. Argentina were awarded a free kick and it was Lionel Messi who took it and Nicolás Otamendi was the first to the loose ball and he scored to give Argentina the 1-0 lead.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni would bring in Gonzalo Montiel for Thiago Almada at half time. Venezuela would get a chance early on with a header but Rulli once more would make the save.

At 1-0, it was a cross into the penalty area and Rondón with a header and he would score to draw Venezuela level. Lionel Scaloni would bring on Leo Balerdi for Gio Lo Celso.

Rodrigo De Paul played a through ball into Lionel Messi but his effort from close ragne was saved by the goalkeeper. Lautaro Martínez and Leandro Paredes were substituted in for Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez.

The match would end in a 1-1 draw. The Argentina national team play Bolivia on Tuesday.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has announced the starting eleven against Venezuela and both Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez start.

Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez both start for Argentina with Lautaro Martínez on the bench. Here is the starting eleven:

Rulli; Tagliafico, Pezzella, Otamendi, Molina; Lo Celso, Enzo Fernández, Almada, De Paul; Julián Álvarez, Messi

Thiago Almada has a chance to start for Argentina against Venezuela.

Almada could be starting for Argentina on Thursday. According to Gastón Edul, the 23 year old was playing in a four man midfield on Wednesday in training with Argentina and he has chances to start Thursday’s World Cup qualifier.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni tried a midfield of Almada, Gio Lo Celso, Enzo Fernández and Rodrigo De Paul. Almada’s last match with the Argentina national team was in June of 2023 in a 2-0 win vs. Indonesia.

Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez are set to start for Argentina with Lautaro Martínez on the bench.

Messi returns to the Argentina national team and to the starting eleven against Venezuela on Thursday. According to Gastón Edul, Messi will start along with Julián Álvarez.

Lautaro Martínez will start on the bench for Argentina against Venezuela. Álvarez and Lautaro started both of Argentina’s last two World Cup qualifying matches.