Lionel Messi will not play in a friendly match with the Indonesian team

Argentine media confirmed that Lionel Messi will play when the World Cup champions face Australia. El Pulga did not travel with the Argentine team to Jakarta for a friendly match against Indonesia.

Lionel Messi practices at the Olympic Stadium in Beijing, China. (Source: Reuters)

TyC Sports (Argentina) revealed that Messi will play when Argentina plays a friendly match with Australia in Beijing (China) on June 15. After that, the star born in 1987 will travel and prepare to play for Inter Miami Club in the US Major League Soccer (MLS).

Therefore, Messi will not play with Argentina in a friendly match against host Indonesia in Jakarta on June 19. Argentina's early announcement of Messi's absence disappointed Indonesian fans.

Immediately after the Indonesian Football Federation opened online ticket sales for the home team's match against Argentina at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (Jakarta, Indonesia), 80,000 tickets were sold out in just 5 minutes.

But after the news that Messi would be absent from this match, many Indonesian fans put their tickets up for sale and had no intention of entering the stadium.

Indonesia spent about 16 million USD (376 billion VND) to invite Argentina to play a friendly match.

However, Messi's absence somewhat reduced the appeal of this match, even though coach Lionel Scaloni still has many big stars in his squad such as Enzo Fernandez, Mac Allister, Di Maria and Julian Alvarez.

Messi recently announced that he is not sure about participating in the 2026 World Cup with Argentina: "As I said before, I don't think I will participate in the next World Cup.

I have not changed my mind. I want to be at the 2026 World Cup as a spectator, not as a player."

Chinese fans wait for Messi. (Source: Getty Images)

After landing in China on June 11, Messi was welcomed by a large crowd of fans. There were too many fans (wanting to see the Argentine superstar "in the flesh").

According to the description, fans packed the places Messi passed through, from the airport to the hotel. That made the Chinese police have a hard time dealing with the overloaded situation.

Being so popular in China has caused Messi and his teammates to face many difficulties. Coach Lionel Scaloni had to change the training plan on the first day. Accordingly, the Argentine team split into two small groups, relaxing in the hotel.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/truyen-thong-argentina-lionel-messi-khong-thi-dau-giao-huu-voi-doi-tuyen-indonesia-230872.html