<p>Lionel Messi will play for Argentina when they face Brazil on Tuesday in a World Cup qualifier missing Neymar because of left thigh pains.</p>.<p>Messi, who has been bothered by a knee injury, will play in San Juan in a match that could earn the team a spot in next year's World Cup, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Monday.</p>.<p>Hours later, the Brazilian Football Confederation said in a statement that Neymar “reported being insecure" about the possible injury.</p>.<p>“Because there's not enough time to perform more exams, the coaching staff decided to spare the player, who will not travel with the squad,” the statement said.</p>.<p>Neymar's friend and rival, Messi, played only 15 minutes in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Uruguay on Friday. He also missed two Paris Saint-Germain matches because of the injury.</p>.<p>“A few days ago he was physically fit and at the end we decided that the best would be for him to play for a few minutes so he starts getting that good feeling,” Scaloni said.</p>.<p>“For tomorrow (Tuesday), it is confirmed that he will play. We hope he finds himself in a good place.”</p>.<p>The Argentines, second in the 10-team South American standings behind Brazil, can qualify with a victory. Brazil already has one of the four automatic qualifying spots from the region.</p>.<p>Brazil has not won in Argentina since 2009.</p>.<p>Scaloni's main concern is in the midfield. Leonardo Paredes is recovering from an injury and could once again be replaced by Guido Rodríguez.</p>.<p>Beside Neymar, Brazil will be missing the suspended Casemiro, who could be replaced by Fabinho. Coach Tite also expects to test other players after beating Colombia 1-0, possibly using Matheus Cunha up front instead of Gabriel Jesus.</p>.<p>In September, the qualifier between the teams was suspended after seven minutes because Argentina broke Covid-19 protocols. FIFA still has not announced what it will do with that match.</p>.<p>“I regret that match did not take place,” Tite said Monday, speaking before Neymar's injury was announced.</p>.<p>“(Tuesday) is a World Cup match for us, like the Colombia match was. Everything else will be secondary due to the greatness of this encounter."</p>.<p>Tite said he would continue testing different players when World Cup qualifying resumes next year. </p>
<p>Lionel Messi will play for Argentina when they face Brazil on Tuesday in a World Cup qualifier missing Neymar because of left thigh pains.</p>.<p>Messi, who has been bothered by a knee injury, will play in San Juan in a match that could earn the team a spot in next year's World Cup, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Monday.</p>.<p>Hours later, the Brazilian Football Confederation said in a statement that Neymar “reported being insecure" about the possible injury.</p>.<p>“Because there's not enough time to perform more exams, the coaching staff decided to spare the player, who will not travel with the squad,” the statement said.</p>.<p>Neymar's friend and rival, Messi, played only 15 minutes in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Uruguay on Friday. He also missed two Paris Saint-Germain matches because of the injury.</p>.<p>“A few days ago he was physically fit and at the end we decided that the best would be for him to play for a few minutes so he starts getting that good feeling,” Scaloni said.</p>.<p>“For tomorrow (Tuesday), it is confirmed that he will play. We hope he finds himself in a good place.”</p>.<p>The Argentines, second in the 10-team South American standings behind Brazil, can qualify with a victory. Brazil already has one of the four automatic qualifying spots from the region.</p>.<p>Brazil has not won in Argentina since 2009.</p>.<p>Scaloni's main concern is in the midfield. Leonardo Paredes is recovering from an injury and could once again be replaced by Guido Rodríguez.</p>.<p>Beside Neymar, Brazil will be missing the suspended Casemiro, who could be replaced by Fabinho. Coach Tite also expects to test other players after beating Colombia 1-0, possibly using Matheus Cunha up front instead of Gabriel Jesus.</p>.<p>In September, the qualifier between the teams was suspended after seven minutes because Argentina broke Covid-19 protocols. FIFA still has not announced what it will do with that match.</p>.<p>“I regret that match did not take place,” Tite said Monday, speaking before Neymar's injury was announced.</p>.<p>“(Tuesday) is a World Cup match for us, like the Colombia match was. Everything else will be secondary due to the greatness of this encounter."</p>.<p>Tite said he would continue testing different players when World Cup qualifying resumes next year. </p>