He looks finally in shape, big season ahead of him to prove to everyone that he is the best center-back in the league.

The Argentina team is conducting training sessions this week in South Florida, before traveling to Chicago to face Ecuador in the first friendly at Soldier Field this Sunday, June 9. This is one of two friendly matches, besides the match against Guatemala five days later, for La Albiceleste to prepare before their title defense campaign at Copa America 2024, which takes place in the US from June 20 to 2024. 7-14.

Lionel Messi is quite cheerful as he prepares for his new journey of conquest with Argentina.

Argentina, the defending champion of both South America and the World, will play the opening match of the tournament in Group A against Canada on June 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Their second match is against Chile on June 25 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey before playing their final group match against Peru at Miami Gardens on June 26.

Lionel Messi is quite cheerful as he prepares for his new journey of conquest with Argentina.

This is the first time the 36-year-old superstar has returned to the Argentina squad this year. The 8-time Ballon d’Or winner scored 8 goals in 8 matches in 2023, including 3 goals in 5 2026 World Cup qualifying matches to help Argentina take the lead with a record of 5 wins and 1 loss, with 15 points. But Messi was absent from Argentina’s first two matches in 2024, a 3-0 win over El Salvador and 3-1 against Costa Rica in friendly matches in the US in March. The 36-year-old superstar was injured at the time. injured his hamstring, but he is currently in relatively good shape, and is helping Inter Miami get off to a strong start in MLS.

Coach Lionel Scaloni is watching his students’ training process.

Coach Lionel Scaloni has included 22 of the 26 players in the 2022 World Cup winning squad. Notably missing from this list are Paulo Dybala (AS Roma), Juan Foyth (Villarreal) or Thiago Almada (Atlanta United). FC). According to regulations, Coach Scaloni will reduce the roster from 29 to 26 players officially participating in the tournament before June 15.