But his absence from the Morocco game tonight was confirmed when Messi picked up a groin injury against Venezuela.
The injury isn’t said to be too bad, and the 31-year-old is expected to be fit for Barcelona’s upcoming La Liga game with Espanyol - as well as Barca’s Champions League clash with Manchester United.
"Lionel Messi did not have the return to international action that he would have wanted,” a Barcelona statement read.
“An injury picked up on Friday night means he will miss Argentina’s game against Morocco on Tuesday.
Lionel Messi should be fit to return to Barcelona this year (Image: GETTY )
Lionel Messi is back in contention to face Manchester United in the Champions League (Image: GETTY )
“The FC Barcelona star captained his side and played the entire 90 minutes of the friendly against Venezuela at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, but they would lose 1-3.
"Whilst he would feature from start to finish, a problem with his pubis means that Messi will not play in the second friendly of the international break."
Argentina come up against Morocco tonight in Tangier with kick-off to be at 7pm.
Messi’s long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo was also injured on international duty, picking up a muscular problem in Portugal’s 1-1 draw with Serbia.
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Cristiano Ronaldo WON'T play against Ajax claims Nicol
Ronaldo picked up a minor muscular injury against Serbia (Image: GETTY )
But the five-time Ballon d’Or winner eased fears that he, like Messi, might have had a spell on the sidelines.
"I'm not worried, I know my body," Ronaldo told Portuguese media.
"I should be back in one or two weeks."
Messi and Ronaldo could face each other in an historic Champions League final later this year, as Juventus and Barca find themselves on different sides of the draw - with respective ties against Ajax and United to come in the quarter-finals.