Argentina's hilarious strategy to get Lionel Messi on the bench vs. Bolivia

Since Lionel Messi didn't suit up for the World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, Argentina found a curious way to have the Inter Miami star on the bench next to his teammates.

Updated on September 14, 2023 11:42AM EDT

Argentina overcame the high altitude of La Paz to claim a commanding 3-0 win over Bolivia on Matchday 2 of the South American 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. This time, Lionel Messi watched the action from the sidelines.

The 36-year-old traveled with the team after helping La Albiceleste beat Ecuador with a free-kick goal, but didn’t take part in training. In the end, Lionel Scaloni agreed to give him much-needed rest.

Messi had no time to stop since joining Inter Miami, having played 11 games in six weeks. But since Leo wasn’t included as a substitute, Argentina found another way to get him authorization to be on the bench.

Messi signs as an auxiliary for the Bolivia-Argentina game

According to Maximiliano Grillo of TNT Sports, Lionel Messi signed the match sheet of the Bolivia – Argentina game as an auxiliary to be allowed to sit on the substitutes’ bench.

How many goals has Lionel Messi scored for Inter Miami?

Lionel Messi has so far scored 11 goals in 11 appearances for Inter Miami.

Will Lionel Messi play in the 2026 World Cup?

Though Lionel Messi said he doesn’t see himself playing in the next World Cup, it’s still too soon to tell.

First of all, Argentina have to secure their spot, of course. Besides, Scaloni and Leo’s teammates have made it clear they’d like him to stay.

Martín O’Donnell

Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Managing Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of multiple sports, including NFL and soccer, with a specialty in original content and real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Managing Editor since May 2025, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis with interviews and exclusive content.