Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi will not be available for selection when Argentina face Nigeria in a pre-World Cup friendly on Tuesday, November 14.

Buenos Aires based Argentine TV sports channel TYC Sports reiterated on Thursday morning that the match against the Russians will be the only one of the two friendlies that Messi will play.

Immediately after the game at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, manager Jorge Sampaoli will excuse the number ten, meaning it is confirmed that he will not feature against Nigeria.

It is thought that Argentina will not field their strongest possible starting line-up against Nigeria, as seven players that started their crucial World Cup qualifier vs Ecuador on October 11, including Messi, are expected to be named in the starting line-up against the Russians on Saturday.

Nigeria beat Argentina 4-1 in an international friendly staged in Abuja six years ago, but they have lost five times to the South American powerhouse, drawing one game.

Predicted Argentina Line-Up Vs Russia : Sergio Romero; Javier Mascherano, Germán Pezzella, Nicolás Otamendi; Ezequiel Salvio, Enzo Pérez, Matías Kranevitter, ángel di María; Giovanni Lo Celso; Messi and Agüero.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : twitter.com/Pee4Pius