Messi Breaks Silence On Why He Will Miss Friendly Against Nigeria

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has explained that the coach of Argentina national team Sampaoli decided to give him a rest and he will not take part in the upcoming friendly against Nigeria.

The number ten played the entirety of Argentina's 1-0 win over Russia at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow on Saturday afternoon.

''Sampaoli decided to rest me a little bit and not play the game against Nigeria,'' Messi said after the friendly against Russia, according to El Grafico.

''We want to get the best way to the World Cup. It's good to win to continue correcting and improving things, we have to reinforce the game system that Sampaoli wants, we must make the most of the time together.

''It is a reality that in the selection there is little time and we have to make the most of it when we are together, reinforce what the coach wants, try to carry out the practices.''

Lionel Messi is Argentina's all-time record goalscorer with 61 goals to his name, he scored a brace against the Super Eagles at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Igho Kingsley

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