Messi to start Venezuela friendly on Argentina return

Lionel Messi will start Friday's friendly against Venezuela in Madrid as he makes his return for Argentina following a self-imposed eight-month exile, coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed.

Scaloni said that Messi would line up alongside Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez and Atlanta United's Gonzalo Martinez in attack as he revealed his full starting team.

"It's a joy for me and for everyone that he's back," Scaloni told a news conference on Thursday.

"Now what remains is try and get the team to play along with him and get the best out of him. We're all very happy that he's back."
"We have a way of playing and feeling football in these six games we've had. We're not going to change it, that (Messi) is coming is more incentive for us and another addition."
"But we need the rest, who are all top players and key figures at their clubs, to give us that bit extra to try and be a great team."