Lionel Messi was reportedly listed as Argentina's assistant coach for their most recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier after finding a FIFA loophole.
The 36-year-old sat out of his country's 3-0 away win over Bolivia at the Estadio Hernando Siles earlier this week as a precaution, with head coach Lionel Scaloni stating in a post-match press conference that he did not want to risk the Inter Miami forward.
Messi was not even named among the substitutes and, therefore, would have been expected to watch the match from the stands, but was seen sitting on the bench in his Argentina tracksuit., this was because the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner signed a FIFA form to say that he was an assistant coach. The paperwork was approved and Messi joined his Albiceleste teammates on the sidelines to watch his side convincingly beat the Bolivians thanks to goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Tagliafico and Nicolas Gonzalez.
Messi captained the 2022 FIFA World Cup champions to victory in their 1-0 win over Ecuador just days earlier, scoring the free-kick that proved to be the match-winner, before coming off late on in the game.The Miami-based No. 10 later explained he was"a little tired" and that it would not be the last time he is taken off in games as he gets older.
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