The Argentina national football team started their first practice in preparation for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. On Thursday, they will play historic foes Uruguay, and on Tuesday, they will play Brazil. Even though some players couldn’t make it because of busy schedules, the team spirit was high, especially since Lionel Messi was at the training ground.

The star of the day was Pablo Maffeo, a 26-year-old right back for Mallorca whose mother is from Argentina and he was born in Spain. A lot of people were surprised when Lionel Scaloni put him in his team. Messi, Paredes, De Paul, and Lo Celso, along with other players, welcomed Maffeo, making it an unforgettable moment for the new player.

Messi is having a great time in his career after winning the Qatar World Cup and his eighth Ballon d’Or. He is now with Inter Miami and won the Leagues Cup. Messi has been at his best with the Argentine team, which has earned 12 points in four playoff games. It’s exciting for him to play again in front of his home crowd, especially against Luis Suárez of Uruguay, who could become his MLS partner in the future.

Messi’s happy and calm mood was clear in an Instagram story that showed him laughing while leaning against a post with a drink in his hand. It was the perfect representation of his current state of commitment and happiness.

As a result of his time in Europe, the Argentine captain now has a longer break at the end of the year. He went to practice on Monday and met Maffeo and some of his old friends. The team is now focused on their next games, one against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay at the Bombonera stadium and the other against Brazil at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, where they will play without Neymar but still face a tough opponent.

Maffeo had to go through a lot to make it to the national team. He spent hours at Renaper’s offices completing his Argentine citizenship, which made it almost impossible for him to join the team.

Seven European players—Nico Otamendi, Ángel Di María, Lautaro Martínez, Nico Tagliafico, Francisco Ortega, Huevo Acuña, and Lucas Ocampos—were late because they had to work with their clubs, but they should be able to join the team on Tuesday.

Scaloni has to choose the starting lineup. He has to decide between Nico González and Di María, and he also has to think about Lautaro’s recent play at Inter and whether he should compete with Julián Álvarez for a starting place. A lot of people in Argentina are looking forward to seeing Messi and the team play, just like Messi is excited to wear the national team’s jersey.

.