Match ends, Argentina 1, Venezuela 3.
Lionel Messi made a disappointing return to Argentina duty as he was injured in a 3-1 defeat by Venezuela.
Barcelona forward Messi missed six internationals during a self-imposed exile following defeat by eventual winners France at the 2018 World Cup.
Messi, 31, finished the match but felt pain in his groin and will sit out Tuesday's friendly against Morocco.
The injury, described as a flare up of an existing problem, is not thought to be serious.
In a friendly between the two South American sides held in Madrid, Newcastle striker Salomon Rondon put Venezuela ahead after six minutes before Jhon Murillo doubled the lead just before half-time.
Lautaro Martinez pulled a goal back for Argentina, but Josef Martinez added Venezuela's third with a penalty.
Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, Chelsea's on-loan striker Gonzalo Higuain and Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi were all left out of the squad by manager Lionel Scaloni.
Despite five substitutions being made by Argentina, Juventus forward Paulo Dybala failed to make it off the bench, although Watford's Roberto Pereyra did play the final 12 minutes at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
- Ronaldo return for Portugal ends in draw
- Griezmann and Mbappe score in France win
- Sterling scores hat-trick as England thrash Czechs
Line-ups
Argentina
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Armani
- 29FoythBooked at 44mins
- 2MercadoSubstituted forKannemannat 45'minutes
- 14Li MartínezSubstituted forBlancoat 45'minutes
- 24Montiel
- 20Lo CelsoBooked at 54minsSubstituted forPereyraat 78'minutes
- 5Paredes
- 3Tagliafico
- 10Messi
- 18MartínezSubstituted forSuárezat 45'minutes
- 22La MartínezSubstituted forBenedettoat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Kannemann
- 7Pereyra
- 8Acuña
- 9Benedetto
- 12Marchesín
- 13Marcone
- 19Zaracho
- 21Dybala
- 25Blanco
- 26Saravia
- 27Suárez
- 32Musso
Venezuela
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Fariñez
- 20HernándezBooked at 47mins
- 3OsorioBooked at 63mins
- 2VillanuevaBooked at 33mins
- 16Rosales
- 15MurilloSubstituted forHurtadoat 89'minutes
- 18HerreraSubstituted forSoteldoat 64'minutes
- 5Moreno
- 8RincónBooked at 82mins
- 11MachísSubstituted forAñor Acostaat 79'minutesBooked at 87mins
- 23RondónBooked at 56minsSubstituted forMartínezat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Chancellor
- 7Añor Acosta
- 9Córdova
- 10Soteldo
- 13Seijas
- 14Del Pino
- 17Martínez
- 21González
- 22Romo Perez
- 24Figuera
- 25Aristeguieta
- 26Hurtado
- Referee:
- José María Sánchez Martínez
- Attendance:
- 20,000
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home66%
- Away34%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home9
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Argentina 1, Venezuela 3.
Post update
Matías Suárez (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ronald Hernández (Venezuela).
Post update
Juan Foyth (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Juanpi (Venezuela).
Post update
Domingo Blanco (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Roberto Rosales (Venezuela).
Substitution
Substitution, Venezuela. Jan Carlos Hurtado replaces Jhon Murillo.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Booking
Juanpi (Venezuela) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Juanpi (Venezuela).
Post update
Attempt missed. Darío Benedetto (Argentina) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Walter Kannemann (Argentina).
Post update
Josef Martínez (Venezuela) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Roberto Pereyra (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Roberto Rosales (Venezuela).
Booking
Tomás Rincón (Venezuela) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Roberto Pereyra (Argentina) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Comments
Join the conversation
Why can't they integrate them into the team even at the last world cup. Is the manager clueless or does Messi say what's happening
Looks like player power to me. If Messi is a true great and a great pro you play with whoever the manager picks.
In my job if I say I won't work with someone then I'd be told to go home. Be a professional
Had one amazing game where he scored a hatrick, did little else of note and barely played in the final due to injury. Hardly single handedly carried them to the win, give his teammates the credit they deserve.
Messi has never achieved internationally, hence why he will always be the bridesmaid, never the bride.
It always amazes me that countries like Venezuela, which are supposedly in the grip of civil war and starvation, can put together a football team to compete internationally.
1) Poverty breeds football. Kids kicking old balls all day because they can't afford playstations doesn't hurt the numbers coming through.
2) The players aren't poor. Many won't even play in Venezuala.
I don't really think that's the core problem, although the overcrowding of attacking talent doesn't help. In my opinion their main problem is the lack of decent midfield to supply the attackers. Why else do you think their attackers all look world class when playing at their clubs respectively, but look useless playing for Argentina.
That 86 Argentina side was almost the definition of a one man team.
There's a famous photo of Maradona surrounded by the entire team - the entire Belgium team!
But the truth is that in 86 they had better tactics, & their star man was a better team player. Maradona won them games on his own, but he also knew when to exploit the opposition focus on him by releasing his team-mates.