Messi: Will Argentina Captain Start World Cup Qualifier Against Paraguay?

• Argentina will take on Paraguay and Peru for their October international games
• Lionel Messi has joined the team with fewer minutes since his September injury
• There are debates on whether he will start tonight's encounter versus Paraguay

Lionel Messi is the trending topic again as he returns to Argentina for the October international break, with questions being asked about whether he will start against Paraguay.

The captain played only one of the two games in the September break, the 1-0 win over Ecuador in which he scored the match-winning free kick, but missed the game against Bolivia.

Messi carried the injury back to his club and played only 72 minutes for Inter Miami in one month, culminating in the club losing the US Open Cup final and missing out on an MLS playoff spot.

The Herons captain played 35 minutes in the 1-0 loss to Cincinnati, which ended Miami's season but has appeared to have shaken off his injury ahead of the international break.

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Will Messi start against Paraguay?

As per NBC Sports, Argentina and Brazil are the only teams with perfect records - two wins out of two - to start off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

La Albiceleste hopes to make it four out of four with wins against Paraguay and Peru ahead of their crunch tie against Brazil in Rio de Janeiro in November.

According to TyC Sports journalist, Gaston Edul, the team will line up without Messi from the start but he will feature in the second half. Strikers, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez are primed to start.

Why Messi was substituted against Ecuador

Sports Brief previously reported on why Messi was substituted against Ecuador as head coach, Lionel Scaloni explained hauling him off in the 87th minute after putting the team ahead.

The Argentina coach claimed it was the captain's request to be brought off then, which the Inter Miami star clarified to be tiredness before stating he was fine and not injured as many thought.

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Yedlin's verdict on Messi's season

Sports Brief also reported on Inter Miami's DeAndre Yedlin rating Messi's first season at the club after their MLS playoff hopes were dashed against Cincinnati.

The American defender acknowledged Messi's role in winning a trophy for the first time in the club's history but also believes the season can't be seen as a success.