Lionel Messi will again be absent from Argentina's squad when they travel to Saudi Arabia next month to take on Iraq and Brazil in two friendly matches.
The Barcelona superstar missed La Albiceleste's clashes with Guatemala and Colombia earlier this month, and interim coach Lionel Scaloni has now confirmed Messi's hiatus will continue, per Fox Sports (h/t Dejan Kalinic of Goal):
"I talked to him and we still think that the best thing is that he doesn't come, that he's not in. We are in a different stage and these guys have to keep putting on the shirt of the national team and see what they show, which is the most important thing.