On Monday, August 18, 2025, the Argentina Football Association (AFA) announced that Lionel Messi will return to the national team’s preliminary squad for their final two CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela and Ecuador in September. This news, exciting fans worldwide, confirms the 38-year-old captain’s recovery from an adductor injury and his commitment to lead the defending champions. This professional, reader-friendly news blog details the announcement, its significance, and what’s next, crafted for football enthusiasts following Messi’s journey. The Announcement: Messi’s Comeback Squad Inclusion: Coach Lionel Scaloni named Messi in the 31-man preliminary squad for matches against Venezuela (September 4, Buenos Aires) and Ecuador (September 9, Quito). The AFA highlighted his return with a social media post captioned, “¡Buenos...