Lionel Messi 'to only feature in one Argentina game this week' despite nine month absence from national team Lionel Messi will only play in one of Argentina's two friendly matches in March He has not featured for Argentina since the World Cup defeat to France in June Argentina play Venezuela on Friday in Madrid and will play Morocco on TuesdayBy Tom Caldon For Mailonline Published: 10:55 GMT, 21 March 2019 | Updated: 10:55 GMT, 21 March 2019 Viewcomments Lionel Messi will only take part in one of Argentina's two international friendlies this week, despite not having played for the national team in nine months. Argentina will first take on Venezuela at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Arena on Friday evening. Messi has been training with his team-mates at Real Madrid's Valdebebas training ground this week and is expected to play in the friendly fixture, but it is understood he will then return to Barcelona instead of travelling to Tangier to Morocco on Tuesday night. Lionel Messi will only play in one of Argentina's two friendly matches in March The 31-year-old has not played for the national team since the 4-3 defeat to France in the World Cup last-16 clash in June 2018. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has not featured in the last five Argentina matches, including friendly victories over Guatemala, Iraq and Mexico, and a 1-0 defeat by Brazil. The Barcelona star has accumulated 128 caps for his country, scoring 68 goals since making his debut in a friendly against Hungary in August 2005. Messi was sent off just one minute after coming on as a second-half substitute, and Argentina went on to lose 2-1 at the Ferenc Puskas Stadion. He has not featured for Argentina since the World Cup defeat to France in June Meanwhile, Cesar Luis Menotti - coach of the 1978 World Cup-winning Argentina squad- has voiced his concern over the burden placed on Messi when he is with his national side. 'I'm afraid that Messi plays,' Menotti told FM 94.7. 'I see him with important emotional fatigue between the Champions League and the national team. I see him very tired. 'If he wants to play with Argentina, better.' Argentina play Venezuela on Friday in Madrid and will play Morocco on Tuesday Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility