Overview
- Argentina plays Bolivia in Córdoba on Wednesday, September 30, as the first practical test of its post‑Messi transition with Messi absent from the lineup.
- Coach Lionel Scaloni named Cristian 'Cuti' Romero the primary captain and set a rotating captaincy that also includes Emiliano Martínez and Lautaro Martínez.
- Scaloni has kept the No.10 shirt vacant until Messi’s final match and plans to start Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez together up front to explore new attacking options.
- The match will be broadcast in Argentina by Telefe and TyC Sports, will be streamed on their platforms, and will be played with stadium capacity limited to 50% under an AFA sanction.
- Scaloni is negotiating a contract extension that runs to December 31 and the three friendlies, culminating in Messi’s Monumental farewell on October 6, will shape selection, squad availability and the team’s leadership structure going forward.