Staff Reporter.
Lionel Messi played his first international for almost seven months as Argentina warmed up for the Copa America with a 1-0 win over Ecuador in Chicago.
Messi came on as a 56th-minute substitute for Angel di Maria at Soldier Field.
Di Maria, captaining the side in Messi’s absence, scored in the 40th minute after a superb pass from Tottenham defender Cristian Romero.
Di María’s goal marked his second consecutive in an international match, also scoring against Costa Rica on March 26. With the 31st goal of his Argentina career, the 36-year-old midfielder is tied with Gonzalo Higuain for the fifth-most goals in the country’s history and sits just four goals behind Diego Maradona at No. 4 on the leaderboard.
“We know Copa America will be complicated, you could see it today in the game. Players get into it, and there will be difficult games,” Di María told TyC Sports. “I think today was a good game to demonstrate how we are. I think we’re on a good path.”
A right hamstring injury kept the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Inter Miami star from participating in Argentina’s previous two Copa América warmup matches against El Salvador and Costa Rica in March.
“With Leo [Messi], there is no need to risk him. Not just with him, but others like [Nicolas] Otamendi didn’t play. Angel [Di María] only played some minutes, Julian [Alvarez] and Lautaro [Martinez] the same”, said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.
“We want to take care of these players, and allow them to arrive in their best possible conditions to the tournament.“
“We need to get together, compete, add minutes and feel that sensation of putting on that jersey again. That’s what we’re after before a Copa América that will be very difficult,” Scaloni added.
World champions Argentina face Guatemala in another friendly in Maryland on Saturday before they begin their Copa America defence against Canada on 21 June.