Messi's Decision: Will He Play Against Bolivia?

Lionel Messi is set to play for Argentina against Bolivia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL Qualifiers. Messi has been included in Lionel Scaloni's squad for the match, which took place on 15 October 2024, according to some sources, and on 16 October, according to others. The player has overcome his previous injury fears and trained normally with the rest of the squad. Messi also played the full 90 minutes against Venezuela in Argentina's previous game.

Messi's fitness and injury history

Messi has had a history of injuries throughout his career, but he has proven to be resilient and has maintained a high level of fitness, especially in recent years.

At the beginning of his career, Messi experienced several hamstring injuries, particularly on his favoured left foot, which kept him sidelined for extended periods. Since 2016, however, he has been remarkably injury-free, avoiding serious knocks and maintaining his fitness to play significant minutes for both club and country.

In 2024, Messi suffered a series of muscular problems in his adductor and hamstring while playing for Inter Miami. He also sustained an ankle injury in the 2024 Copa America final, which left him sidelined for most of the summer. Despite these setbacks, Messi has shown a remarkable ability to recover and perform at the highest level.

Messi's dedication to his fitness and workout routine is well-known. During the season, he works out every day, focusing on strength, speed, and stretching. He performs multi-directional and linear speed training, weight training, and stretches for over an hour each day during the La Liga season.

Messi's diet also plays a crucial role in maintaining his energy and fitness levels. He follows a strict diet plan, cutting down on carbohydrates as the game approaches and consuming a lot of fish, prawns, chicken, green vegetables, and fruits to strengthen his muscles.

Despite his age and injury history, Messi continues to perform at the highest level and was named TIME's 2023 Athlete of the Year. He has overcome physical obstacles throughout his career and remains one of the best football players in the world.

Messi's previous performance against Bolivia

Lionel Messi has had some impressive performances against Bolivia in the past. In his most recent match against Bolivia, Messi scored a hat-trick, leading Argentina to a 6-0 victory in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. This was Messi's 10th international hat-trick, and it put him level with Cristiano Ronaldo for the most hat-tricks in men's international football.

Messi's hat-trick against Bolivia included two goals in two minutes late in the game, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure and maintain his clinical finishing even in the closing stages of a match. This performance was especially notable as it was Messi's return to the Argentina team after a year, and it demonstrated his enduring quality and impact.

In addition to his three goals, Messi also provided two assists, showcasing his playmaking abilities. He set up goals for Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez, contributing to a dominant attacking display by Argentina.

Messi's previous match against Bolivia, in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup campaign, also saw him score a hat-trick. This highlights his consistent ability to perform against this opponent.

Argentina's performance without Messi

Lionel Messi has been a key part of Argentina's success in the last 8-10 years. Since his international debut in 2005, Argentina has played 158 games with Messi, winning 115 of them, which is a 72.78% win rate. In the same period, they have played 54 games without him, winning 30, drawing 12, and losing 12.

Messi has been the driving force behind Argentina reaching the World Cup final in 2014, reaching multiple Copa América finals, and winning the 2021 Copa América. They have been unbeaten in their last 29 international matches, with their last defeat coming in the 2019 Copa América semi-final against Brazil.

However, Messi is now 37 and has been hampered by persistent hamstring injuries since the fall of 2023. Even though he started in the first team against Venezuela, he was unable to score. Messi's influence on the squad remains strong, and he is still considered a talisman for the team. His command of the international game is crucial to Argentina's success, and he is a selfless leader who creates chances for his teammates to score.

In the recent 6-0 victory over Bolivia, Messi scored a hat-trick and provided two assists, showcasing his enduring quality and impact on the team. Despite his age and injury struggles, Messi continues to perform at a high level when he is able to play, and his presence gives Argentina a significant boost.

While Argentina has shown an ability to win without Messi, his availability and impact remain crucial to their success.

Messi's performance in the 2024 season

Lionel Messi's performance in the 2023 season was impressive, to say the least. Across all club competitions, he made 36 appearances, playing a total of 3,036 minutes. During this time, he scored 0.56 goals per game, which equates to a goal every 151.8 minutes. Not only that, but he also contributed 0.36 assists per game.

Messi's performance in the 2023 season for his club, PSG/Inter Miami, was exceptional. He made 25 appearances, playing a total of 2,082 minutes. During this time, he scored 0.40 goals per game and had a goal contribution of 115.7 minutes per goal or assist. He also managed to score 1 free-kick goal and create 18 big chances for his teammates.

In the UEFA Champions League, Messi played 180 minutes in total across 2 games but failed to get on the scoresheet. However, he did manage to maintain a high level of performance, with a 6.92 average match rating and a 7.99 overall average match rating for the season.

Messi's performance for his country, Argentina, in the 2023 season was also impressive. He made 9 appearances, playing 652 minutes of football and scoring 1 goal per game on average. He also contributed to a goal every 72.4 minutes, demonstrating his impact on the team.

Bolivia's performance in the 2024 season

Bolivia's performance in the 2023 season was marred by controversy and disappointing results. The Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) suspended the season on September 5, 2023, due to allegations of match-fixing, bribery, illegal betting, and VAR alterations. However, the suspension was lifted on September 27 after reforms and an agreement with CONMEBOL for monitoring.

The 2023 Bolivian Primera División season, known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Tigo season, was the 46th of its kind and the sixth under División de Fútbol Profesional management. The season ran from February 4 to December 6, 2023, with 17 teams competing—two more than the previous season. The Strongest clinched their 16th league title, while Bolivar were the defending champions.

On the international stage, Bolivia's national football team, nicknamed La Verde, continued to struggle. In October 2023, they registered their first-ever away win against a World Cup team in the 21st century, beating Saudi Arabia 2-1 in a friendly. However, in the 2024 season, Bolivia found themselves in 6th place in the South American qualifying league for the 2026 World Cup. They had won four out of nine games played.

In October 2024, Bolivia suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat to Argentina in a World Cup qualifier, with Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick. This result kept Bolivia in 6th place in the standings.

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