Messi set for stateside Argentina friendlies, world champions fill gap left by Chinese call-offs after Hong Kong fiasco

The Argentine Football Association [AFA] has confirmed its world champion national team will play two friendly matches in the USA next month, after a pair of fixtures in China were axed following Lionel Messi’s ill-starred visit to Hong Kong. The breadth and scale of the backlash against Messi, following his non-participation when Inter Miami faced …

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Kick-off time, team news and everything you need to know

Brazil host world champions Argentina at the iconic Maracana in the first clash of the South American rivals since last year’s World Cup. Lionel Messi and Argentina will travel to Rio with the bragging rights after winning their third World Cup in Qatar last December, which followed victory in the Copa America against Brazil and …

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