The five-time Ballon d’Or winner previously retired from the national side after their 2016 Copa America final defeat by Chile before returning to help them qualify for this year’s World Cup.

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The two-time world champions will face Guatemala in Los Angeles on September 7 and Colombia in New York four days later, before two friendlies later in the year against as-yet unnamed opponents.

“Messi will not return this year and there are doubts about his future.”

“It is the coach who will say, when the time comes, what the situation is concerning Messi,” a team spokesman told AFP.

Jorge Sampaoli left charge to Lionel Scaloni after defeat in World Cup Tournament in Russia, where the results were 4-3 in the last 16 by France after an embarrassing 3-0 group-stage loss to Croatia.

He will name his first squad for the visit to the United States later this week.

“It’s very personal, Leo must take his time to think about it,” said Carlos Tevez, who is in Barcelona for Boca Juniors’ friendly on Wednesday at the Camp Nou.

“It’s understandable… even if he doesn’t come back. When the international side play, rightly or wrongly, we criticize him. It’s bad for the team and for him… I understand because I’ve been in that situation.”

Messi’s next chance to win his first major international title will be the 2019 Copa America in Brazil.