Lionel Messi: Will ‘Tired’ Argentina Captain Start Against Bolivia?

• Lionel Messi's status for Argentina against Bolivia continues to be a mystery
• Messi came off "tired" against Ecuador in the first qualifier game
• He was medically cleared to travel but has not been training with the group

Lionel Messi's availability for Argentina's World Cup qualifier game against Bolivia is confirmed after travelling with the team. Still, the question is whether he will play or how many minutes will he get.

Argentina faces a difficult test in their second game on the high altitudes of La Paz after winning their first game 1-0 against Ecuador thanks to a Messi freekick in the second half.

Messi came off "tired" against Ecuador with a few minutes left to play in the game, which raised concern over his fitness after playing 12 games for his new club, Inter Miami, since joining in July.

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Messi not spotted in team training

As seen in a video shared on social media by Argentina FA, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was not spotted training with his teammates, which raises further doubt over his selection for the game.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed his availability at the press conference, though he did not say whether he will be on the pitch, claiming there is still time to assess the situation.

Will Messi start against Bolivia?

TyC Sports, via AlbicelesteTalk, confirmed Messi was not absent in training but did light work and stood beside Scaloni while his teammates partook in drills and tactical situations.

The media stated that even though he did not train with the group, he is expected to get some minutes, whether as a starter or off the bench in the game's latter stages.

Messi, however, doesn't like being substituted in a game. He told TyC Sports, as quoted by Sports in 2019 during his Barcelona days:

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"I don't like to go off. I prefer to come on from the bench and play less than to go off," he said.

He is not the same player from four years ago, and Scaloni confirmed he took him off in the game against Ecuador on request.

Sports Brief believes Messi will start against Bolivia, but he is not expected to play 90 minutes after telling fans to get used to seeing him come off games in the closing minutes during his post-match conference after the win over Ecuador.

Why Argentina players had oxygen tubes

Sports Brief reported that fans spotted Argentina players with unusual items as they arrived in La Paz before their second World Cup qualifier game against Bolivia.

The item was identified to be oxygen tubes, which are to help deal with possible altitude illness in the high altitudes of the South American nation, which is over 11,000 feet above sea level.