Juan Sebastián Verón, former Argentina midfielder, has cautioned Argentina against assuming Lionel Messi will play every match of the World Cup. "We need to be careful with Messi and his participation at the World Cup. I'm not sure he can play all matches given his age," Verón told reporters via X (formerly Twitter).
Verón emphasised that the 38-year-old captain should allow himself to accept support from teammates. "I think we should help him, and he should let himself be helped. That's also difficult," Verón noted, acknowledging both Messi's pride and physical demands of tournament football.
The former player highlighted several younger players in excellent form who could supplement Messi's minutes. "Right now Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez and Enzo Fernández are in outstanding form," he said. "We also need to pay attention to the young players—Paz is in good shape now, and 'Flaco' López too." This suggests Argentina have tactical flexibility to manage Messi's involvement while maintaining attacking threat through alternative options.
Messi's potential reduced availability could shift betting markets on Argentina's depth and tournament trajectory; sportsbooks may reassess odds on group-stage survival if the 38-year-old's participation becomes limited to key matches only.
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