Lionel Messi is set to start for Argentina with rumors of the starting eleven against Peru surfacing.

Messi is expected to start against Peru in the World Cup qualifiers. According to ESPN, Messi will be in the starting eleven for Argentina and he would come in for one of Julián Álvarez or Lautaro Martínez.

Álvarez and Lautaro both started for Argentina in their 1-0 win vs. Paraguay but one would have to make way for Messi. Nicolás González also has some discomfort and is a doubt for the match.

Nahuel Molina is another player that has discomfort and if he does not start, Gonzalo Montiel would start in his place. Here is the rumored eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina or Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister: Julián Álvarez or Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez or Messi and Nicolás González or Lucas Ocampos.

Lionel Scaloni spoke about Lautaro Martínez, Alejandro Garnacho and the team at a press conference on Monday.

Scaloni held a press conference where he had commented on Lionel Messi’s fitness and was also asked about Lautaro Martínez and his lack of goals recently with the Argentina national team. Here is what he had to say:

“He is the second highest goal scorer behind Leo. We are not worried. Lautaro is one of us and we love him. I didn’t even talk to him about it. We are not worried, I don’t know if he is, I imagine he is not. The other day he played a spectacular match and there is not much more to say.”

The coach was also asked about Alejandro Garnacho:

“Yes, he is called up as are the other team mates and he has the same chances as the others. We plan the matches based on how we think they can be played. Sometimes one player or another player come in but they all want to contribute. We see him well, happy and giving his best.”

And when asked about the team:

“All of them are fit to play, even if some of them have some discomfort. After that, we have to see how many minutes they are able to play. And I am talking about everyone in general, not about anyone in particular.”

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni held a press conference on Monday where he spoke about Lionel Messi and him possible starting against Peru in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifying match.

Lionel Messi was brought on as a substitute for Argentina in their 1-0 win vs. Paraguay and his inclusion in the starting eleven against Peru is not yet known. Scaloni spoke at a press conference on Monday about Messi. Here is what he had to say:

“Messi is fine, he has been training. We will make the decision tomorrow.”

The coach was also asked about what or who will determine if Messi plays:

“It is to speak with him and to ask him how he is. If he is well… It’s a question of minutes, of how much he can play. If he is well, you already know what I think. If he is well, he will play. There is nothing more to say.”

Scaloni was also asked if Messi can play with both Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez:

“They are match decisions. Today, we are fine the way we are and maybe we don’t need to break the balance but we are open to everything depending on the match. The idea is that two strikers always play but then they have different characteristics.”

He was asked about Lionel Messi and Inter Miami playing in Asia prior to the World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil in November:

“It’s not a problem (Messi’s tour of Asia), the opposite. Those who come from Europe also have a change of schedule, he will also play two matches and comes before or that weekend.”

The Argentina national team will be wearing the purple kit for their World Cup qualifying match vs. Peru.

Argentina will not be wearing their sky blue and white kit but instead the purple kit. According to Gastón Edul, Lionel Scaloni’s team will wear the purple kit for the first time in the World Cup qualifiers.

The last time they wore it was in the 2-0 win vs. Poland at the World Cup.

The Argentina national team trained on Sunday before the match vs. Peru on Tuesday.

Lionel Scaloni held a training session on Sunday and will hold another training session on Monday. According to TyC Sports, Scaloni did not try out a team during the training.

Scaloni will speak at a press conference on Monday prior to the team flying out to Peru on Monday evening. It remains to be seen if Messi will start the match or come on as a substitute as he did against Paraguay.