Scaloni: No more adjectives to describe Messi

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said there are no more words to describe Lionel Messi as he prepares to make his international comeback.

Messi has not played for Argentina since their last-16 elimination at the 2018 World Cup, however, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will end his nine-month absence against Venezuela on Friday.

The 31-year-old superstar has enjoyed another stellar season for Barcelona, so much so that his 33rd LaLiga hat-trick against Celta Vigo last week earned a standing ovation from the opposition supporters.

And Scaloni lauded Messi as Argentina look to step up their preparations ahead of the Copa America, which gets underway in June.

“I said this before. Even he must be tired of this. There are no more adjectives to describe him,” Scaloni told reporters.

“We only want all of his team-mates to know that they are great players too and it’s also for them to make a step forward, not just Messi.

“The rest must make that step forward. They are great players too and we are a great team if we all play our part.”

#SelecciónMayor  La conferencia de Lionel Scaloni se podrá ver en el canal oficial de Youtube: AFASeleccion https://t.co/tBlpc5N4L0 pic.twitter.com/p0n2imrkVq

— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) March 21, 2019

Messi will be in the starting line-up against Venezuela at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano in the Spanish capital.

Juventus star Paulo Dybala is in the squad but he will not start, though Scaloni insisted the pair can play together, despite their previous struggles.

“I’ve already said yes, they [Dybala and Messi] are both compatibles but we have to work it out, I’m sure we can make it within some time,” Scaloni added.

“I think now is not the moment yet, it’s logical, we didn’t have much time to prepare so it’s logical that they can be compatibles but with time I think we can make it.”