Lionel Messi is left out of Argentina’s matchday squad to face Bolivia in World Cup qualifying as Inter Miami desperately hope to have him back for its MLS playoff push

• Lionel Messi was substituted off late on into Argentina’s 1-0 win over Ecuador
• Manager Lionel Scaloni said after the game that Messi had ‘felt something’
• DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news

Lionel Messi was left out of Argentina’s squad to face Bolivia in its World Cup qualifier in La Paz on Tuesday. 

The star forward was substituted off late on into the Albiceleste’s 1-0 win over Ecuador Thursday after he scored the only goal of the game. 

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said after the game that Messi had ‘felt something.’ The seven-time Ballon d’or winner himself said he was just ‘a little bit tired.’

However, he didn’t even make the bench fort he second round of qualifiers on Tuesday. 

The Argentinian soccer association has not specified why its team captain is out and he also skipped training on Monday. 

Lionel Messi was left out of Argentina’s squad to face Bolivia in its World Cup qualifier Tuesday

The match at the Hernando Siles Stadium will be played at La Paz’ altitude of 3,637 meters (11,932 ft.), which puts extra stress on players who are not used to those conditions.

Messi scored from a free kick to give Argentina a 1-0 home win against Ecuador in its first competitive international since winning the World Cup last December.

The 36-year-old has had a hectic start to life with Inter Miami, scoring 11 goals in as many games since joining the MLS team in mid-July. 

He has helped David Beckham’s team lift its first trophy in the inaugural Leagues Cup final and reach the US Open Cup final with a semifinal win over Cincinnati, with both games going to extra time and penalties. 

But the Herons will hope their global superstar is back fit to return to action when they take on Atlanta United Saturday. 

Messi has been seemingly playing non-stop since joining Inter Miami back in mid-July

But Argentina will deprive the Herons of their star again for the season’s penultimate match

Miami is on the hunt to get back into the playoff race, currently sitting six points back of DC United in the Eastern Conference final Wild Card spot and twelve points behind the last automatic qualifying spot.

Unfortunately for Inter Miami, this will likely not be the last time that international duty will deprive them of Messi for their playoff push.

The Argentine captain will be absent for the penultimate match of the MLS season: with World Cup qualifying occurring while Miami hosts Charlotte FC. Those two teams will meet again just three days later on the league’s final day.

Between now and the last day, Inter Miami will face some tough opponents – including third-place Orlando City and Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati.

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