Argentina great Lionel Messi is attempting to forget about his troubles with Paris Saint-Germain as he returns to action for his country.
Messi faced heavy criticism and jeers from the home fans after PSG's recent Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, but with Argentina already qualified for this year's World Cup, he gets the chance to escape the same level of scrutiny.
Messi ended his long wait for a Copa America triumph last year and is still part of Lionel Scaloni's squad for the formalities of the latest qualifying double-header and showed up for international duty in good spirits.
He is expected to be involved against Venezuela on Friday and Ecuador next Wednesday, and looked to have recovered from the flu which kept him out of PSG's game at Monaco on Sunday.
Argentina, who will welcome Venezuela to La Bombonera on Friday, are second in the table behind Brazil, while the visitors are one of two South American nations, along with Paraguay, already eliminated.
Pictures of Messi and the Argentina squad in training can be seen in the gallery above. To view the next image, just click on the right arrow or swipe left on mobile devices.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
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The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
You Were Never Really Here
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Joaquim Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov
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Tour de France Stage 16:
165km run from Le Puy-en-Velay to Romans-sur-Isère
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