Messi available to face France

FC Barcelona striker Lionel Messi will join the Argentinian national side for a friendly with France in February.

Messi normally only plays in Argentina’s competitive games, as was agreed between the country’s FA and the Catalan giants. However, with World Cup qualifiers ahead in March, the forward wants to use this friendly as preparation.

“I spoke with the coach about taking part, and he understood the situation,” Messi told journalists.

Messi has been in great form this season, scoring 10 goals in 14 games in the Primera Division which leaves him in shared fourth place in the league’s top scorer ranking.

Argentina resume their qualifying campaign against Venezuela on March 28th and travel to face Bolivia three days later.