Messi's Decision To Play Against Bolivia: What To Expect

Lionel Messi's participation in Argentina's 2026 World Cup qualifier against Bolivia was uncertain due to concerns over his physical fitness. The 36-year-old Inter Miami player had shown signs of fatigue in the previous game against Ecuador, where he scored the only goal but asked to be substituted before full-time. While medical tests ruled out any serious injuries, a decision on his inclusion in the Bolivia match was left until the last minute.

Messi's fitness and injury concerns

Lionel Messi has had an illustrious football career, but at 36 years old, he is now in the twilight of his career. With age comes greater attention to his match fitness, and Messi has recently begun to rack up a lengthy injury list.

Messi suffered a severe ankle injury in the 2024 Copa America final, which left him sidelined for the summer. He sprained his ankle quite badly and was in visible pain, with tears streaming down his face. Messi underwent RICE therapy (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) and credited his recovery to mental resilience and preventative measures like strengthening exercises.

Messi has also experienced a number of muscular problems, particularly in his adductor and hamstring, which have resulted in him missing several games. In September 2023, he underwent medical tests after a match against Ecuador, where he asked to be substituted due to fatigue. Although tests revealed he was not carrying an injury, he was showing signs of muscle fatigue, and there were concerns about his physical fitness.

Despite these injury concerns, Messi has proven to be incredibly resilient throughout his career, and he has often been able to perform close to his best even at an advanced age. He has repeatedly shown that he is still one of the best players in the world, bagging 11 goals in as many matches for Inter Miami and performing well for Argentina in their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Messi's club, Inter Miami, will need to be cautious with their superstar player to ensure he stays healthy and can continue to perform at a high level.

Messi's performance against Ecuador

Lionel Messi's performance against Ecuador was impressive, to say the least. The 36-year-old scored the only goal in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup qualifier match. It was a free-kick goal in the 78th minute, his signature style, that left the Ecuadorian goalkeeper, Hernan Galindez, kneeling. This goal marked Messi's eighth consecutive international match on the scoresheet.

Messi's performance on the pitch was not without its challenges. He asked to be substituted towards the end of the match due to fatigue, and underwent medical tests to rule out any serious injuries. Despite showing signs of muscle fatigue, the test results ruled out any injuries, and Messi resumed training with the team.

Messi's impact on the game extended beyond his goal. In the 34th minute, he delivered a precise pass to Enzo Fernandez, creating a chance that was unfortunately blocked. However, from the resulting corner, Messi's service found Alexis Mac Allister, who flicked it on for Lisandro Martinez to head home, marking his first international goal.

Following the match against Ecuador, Messi travelled with the Argentina squad to face Bolivia in their next World Cup qualifier.

Bolivia's stadium altitude

Bolivia's Estadio Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz is located at an altitude of 3,637 metres (11,932 feet) above sea level. This makes it one of the highest professional stadiums in the world. The stadium was opened in 1930 and is the country's largest, with a capacity of 41,143 seats.

The high altitude of the stadium has been a source of controversy in the past. In 2007, FIFA introduced a temporary ban on international matches being played at more than 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) above sea level, citing concerns about players' health and the "unfair" advantage for acclimatised home teams. This ruling prevented Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia from hosting FIFA World Cup qualifiers in their capital cities.

The ban was strongly opposed by Bolivian President Evo Morales, who called it "discrimination" and "football apartheid". He was joined in his campaign by Diego Maradona, who played a match at the Hernando Siles stadium to demonstrate that it was possible for fit, young professionals to play at high altitudes. Following a month of campaigning, FIFA raised the altitude limit to 3,000 metres and granted a special exemption for the Estadio Hernando Siles, allowing it to continue hosting World Cup qualifiers. The ban was fully revoked in May 2008.

Argentina's 2026 World Cup qualification

Lionel Messi is expected to feature in Argentina's second CONMEBOL qualifier for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The Inter Miami player will travel to La Paz to take on Bolivia, though it is unclear whether he will start the game. Messi, who is in the latter stages of his career, has been showing signs of fatigue, and a break would be beneficial.

The 36-year-old underwent medical tests after being substituted in the 89th minute of Argentina's 1-0 win over Ecuador. He scored the only goal in that match but asked to come off before full-time. Messi explained that he was tired and sure that it wouldn't be the last time it happened. Tests revealed that he was not carrying an injury, and he returned to training with the rest of the team.

The Argentina coach, Lionel Scaloni, said that Messi would travel to Bolivia but that a late decision would be made on whether he would start. Scaloni said:

> Messi is going to travel to Bolivia. Today he trained differently, but there are still two days left until the game, and we will make the decision tomorrow whether he plays or not. The team is going to be similar to the one that played against Ecuador.

Argentina is currently top of the standings in the South American qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup. The team beat Brazil 1-0 in their qualifying match at the Maracana Stadium on 21 November, ending Brazil's long unbeaten run in World Cup qualifiers on home soil.

The qualification process for the 2026 World Cup began in September 2023 and will run until September 2025. Each team in the CONMEBOL zone will play each other twice in a home-and-away round-robin format.

Messi's previous performance against Bolivia

Lionel Messi has a rich history of strong performances against Bolivia. In his last match against Bolivia on September 9, 2021, Messi scored a hat-trick, breaking Pele's South American international goals record. This win also marked the first time Argentine fans were allowed to watch the national team since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Messi's stellar performance brought him to tears as he lifted the Copa America trophy in front of the home crowd.

Messi has eight goals in 11 matches against Bolivia and has never scored in La Paz, where Bolivia plays their home games. The challenging conditions in La Paz, which sits 3,000 meters above sea level, make it difficult for visiting teams to win. The altitude and reduced air pressure cause the ball to travel faster, impacting the gameplay.

Messi's performance in the September 2023 World Cup qualifier in Bolivia was uncertain due to fatigue. He skipped Argentina's last practice session before the match and sat out the previous game, a 1-0 win over Ecuador, after complaining of fatigue and requesting a substitution. Despite this, Messi's presence on the field was not ruled out entirely, and he travelled with the Argentina squad to Bolivia.

If Messi played and scored in the 2023 qualifier, he would surpass Luis Suarez of Uruguay as the top scorer in South American World Cup qualifying.

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