Argentina great Lionel Messi is attempting to forget about his troubles with Paris Saint-Germain as he returns to action for his country. Messi <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2022/03/15/toxic-tensions-at-psg-as-fans-turn-on-messi-and-neymar-but-stay-loyal-to-mbappe/" target="_blank">faced heavy criticism and jeers</a> from the home fans after PSG's <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2022/03/10/real-madrid-v-psg-player-ratings-benzema-95-vinicius-junior-8-marquinhos-3-mbappe-9/" target="_blank">recent Champions League defeat to Real Madrid</a>, but with Argentina already qualified for this year's World Cup, he gets the chance to escape the same level of scrutiny. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/lionel-messi/" target="_blank">Messi</a> ended his long wait for a Copa America triumph last year and is still part of Lionel Scaloni's squad for the formalities of the latest qualifying double-header and showed up for international duty in good spirits. He is expected to be involved against Venezuela on Friday and Ecuador next Wednesday, and looked to have recovered from the flu which kept him out of PSG's game at Monaco on Sunday. Argentina, who will welcome Venezuela to La Bombonera on Friday, are second in the table behind Brazil, while the visitors are one of two South American nations, along with Paraguay, already eliminated. Pictures of Messi and the Argentina squad in training can be seen in the gallery above. To view the next image, just click on the right arrow or swipe left on mobile devices.
