Barcelona star Lionel Messi to return to Argentina action in March for Copa America preparations

REUTERS
Ben Hayward30 January 2019

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will return to action with Argentina in March as the Albiceleste prepare for this summer's Copa America.

The 31-year-old took a break of international football after the World Cup, but will be back for the friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco at the end of March.

Messi, who has 65 goals in 128 games for his national team, made his last appearance for Argentina in the 4-3 defeat to France in the World Cup back in late June.

Lionel Scaloni's side face Venezuela on March 22 and Morocoo on March 26 and if Messi appears in the first of those, he will bring an end to a 214-day hiatus with the Albiceleste.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has won over 30 trophies for Barcelona, but is still without a major honour for Argentina's senior side, having lost four finals with his national team.

Three of those finals were in the Copa America (in 2007, 2015 and 2016), but Messi and Argentina will have another chance to claim that prize in July as the continental competition takes place in Brazil.

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