Lionel Messi Doesn't Decide When To Play - Argentina Football Association

Lionel Messi and Barcelona do not decide when the forward is available to play for his country, according to Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Luis Segura. The 27-year-old was left out of Gerardo Martino's first squad as Albiceleste coach for the international break in early September, with rumours circulating in Argentine media that Messi had lost interest in the national team after they finished as runners up in World Cup 2014.

However, AFA chief Luis Segura has insisted that the absence of Barcelona's No.10 from the last squad was 100 per cent fitness-related and lauded the quality of Martino's men - who defeated Germany 4-2 in a friendly at the start of the month - without Messi.


"Neither Messi nor Barcelona or nor Messi's family gave us orders to leave him out of the squad," Julio Humberto Grondona's successor told DyN.

"Messi did not play a friendly against Germany because of a thigh problem and this was informed to us by Barcelona's medical staff.

"It is fantastic to have the best player in the world with us. The AFA have the second best team in the world without him, which is important in itself, but if you add to that players like Messi you have important added value."

Argentina are back in friendly action on October 11 against Brazil as they continue their preparation for next summer's Copa America in Chile.