MADRID, Spain, Mar 23 – Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s friendly against Morocco next week after picking up a groin injury in the shock 3-1 defeat to Venezuela on Friday as he made his first international appearance since the 2018 World Cup.

Barcelona star Messi started the fixture following a self-imposed eight-month exile in which he missed six friendlies since the tournament in Russia, which they exited in the last 16 at the hands of eventual champions France.

The Argentine Football Federation tweeted the injury update following the loss at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium.

Gonzalo Martinez has also been ruled out of the fixture in Tangier with a thigh problem.

Salomon Rondon and Jhon Murillo gave Venezuela a two-goal advantage at the break.

Argentina forward Lautaro Martinez halved the deficit before Josef Martinez scored from the spot to claim the spoils in the friendly.

Messi’s 129th cap started poorly as Newcastle forward Rondon controlled a long ball before hammering home a half-volley past Argentine goalkeeper Franco Armani.

The pick of the goals came as 23-year-old Murillo scored for only a third time in 17 internationals.

He received the ball on the corner of the box, was given plenty of space by the Albiceleste defence and the winger fired home powerfully past Armani with a minute left of the first half

Argentina’s Martinez gave his side some hope on the hour mark as Messi found Giovanni Lo Celso who played in the Inter forward to finish.

Rafael Dudamel’s side, ranked 32nd in the world, claimed a third after Martinez was tripped in the box.

The Atlanta United attacker skipped up to take the penalty, sending Armani the wrong way to score with 15 minutes remaining.

The friendly against Morocco on Tuesday comes as they prepare for this year’s Copa America, held in Brazil between June-July.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Capital FM stops Ghetto Radio reggae in 17-8 friendly victory

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Saturday, 23rd Mar 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Messi to miss Morocco friendly after injury on international returnrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 23 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Musa selected to oversee NOCK Performance Programrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 22 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Arsenal legend says Percy Tau is good enough for Premier Leaguern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 22 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Super Rugby says goodbye to Sunwolvesrn

rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn 23 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro qualifying openerrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 1 day ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Messi to start Venezuela friendly on Argentina returnrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 1 day ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Is Tuyisenge headed for the exit at Gor?rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Sudan hits Kenya in U23 AFCON qualifierrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Nine-man Gor sail to Confed Cup quartersrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Ozil slammed for reportedly inviting Erdogan to his weddingrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Gangla elected new Kenya Rugby Union chairrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Golfrn rn rn rn rn Ngige earns Sh1.2mn at Magical Kenya openrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Cheruiyot smashes Lisbon Half recordrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn I couldnu2019t sleep for four days u2013 Tuyisengern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Boxingrn rn rn rn rn Zarika banking on experience to floor Phirirn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Messi to miss Morocco friendly after injury on international return

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 23rd Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Musa selected to oversee NOCK Performance Program

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Arsenal legend says Percy Tau is good enough for Premier League

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Super Rugby says goodbye to Sunwolves

rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro qualifying opener

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL GOR MAHIA ADVANCE TO CAF CONFEDERATION CUP QUARTERS?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Messi to start Venezuela friendly on Argentina return

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Betway rewards lucky winner with trip to watch Ghana, Stars match

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Capital FM out to take Ghetto Radio to u2018Babyloneu2019 in football friendly u00a0

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 21st Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Migne laments minimal government support

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 21st Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Experts dispute testosterone test for top female athletes

rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn Thursday, 21st Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Capital FM stops Ghetto Radio reggae in 17-8 friendly victoryrn rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 23rd Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Zarika banking on experience to floor Phirirn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn No panic for Kimanzi in Sudan return tiern rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn ALEX ISABOKErn Obiri sets sights on first world cross goldrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn ALEX ISABOKErn Musa selected to oversee NOCK Performance Programrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tIs Tuyisenge headed for the exit at Gor?rn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 21st Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tSudan hits Kenya in U23 AFCON qualifierrn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tNine-man Gor sail to Confed Cup quartersrn

rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 17th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tOzil slammed for reportedly inviting Erdogan to his weddingrn

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 18th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tGangla elected new Kenya Rugby Union chairrn

rn Rugbyrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tNgige earns Sh1.2mn at Magical Kenya openrn

rn Golfrn rn Sunday, 17th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tCheruiyot smashes Lisbon Half recordrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Sunday, 17th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tI couldnu2019t sleep for four days u2013 Tuyisengern

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 18th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tZarika banking on experience to floor Phirirn

rn Boxingrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Capital FM stops Ghetto Radio reggae in 17-8 friendly victoryrn rn rn Viewrn rn Saturday, 23rd Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Zarika banking on experience to floor Phirirn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn No panic for Kimanzi in Sudan return tiern rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn ALEX ISABOKErn Obiri sets sights on first world cross goldrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn ALEX ISABOKErn Musa selected to oversee NOCK Performance Programrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */