Argentina will play October friendlies during the FIFA window as part of their 2026 World Cup preparations in the USA. However, Lionel Messi could be without a key teammate after he suffered muscle discomfort during warmups before a Europa League match.

On Matchday 2 of the UEFA Europa League, Aston Villa faced Feyenoord, but Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez was a surprise absentee. The Argentine goalkeeper was set to start, but a calf strain suffered during warmups forced him to withdraw at the last moment.

With Lionel Scaloni set to announce Argentina’s squad for the October friendlies against Venezuela on the 10th and Puerto Rico on the 13th, Martinez could be a significant doubt. Because of this setback, the Aston Villa goalkeeper will undergo medical tests to determine the extent of the inj

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