Argentina vs Spain: Messi confirmed that he will be playing against Spain at the Wanda Metropolitano [VIDEO].

No he was not against Italy, but he will do everything possible to play a few minutes against Spain. He may not be a starter under Sampaoli's command, but he could do it from the bench. Loaded on a muscular level, the Barcelona forward chose not to participate in the first friendly against the 'Azzurra'. However, now Lionel Messi seems to be recovered, so football fans will be able to see him this Tuesday against 'La Furia Roja' at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, valid for the second match of the FIFA friendlies.

"My intention is to play against Spain. I felt good and I want to play," Messi said in an exclusive interview for FOX Sports from Madrid. Leo preferred not to risk against Italy since it was not a match where points were at stake, so three days later would have been enough for his physical recovery and thus guarantee his presence against Spain.

Although Messi is recovering, Sampaoli will not be able to count on Sergio Agüero, who was not present against Italy, or Ángel Di Maria, who left the Argentine national team after suffering a "myalgia in the posterior face of the right thigh" in the match against Italy.

The 'Albiceleste', who struggled to qualify for the World Cup in Russia, will face a 'Furia Roja', which they last faced in Buenos Aires in September 2010 in another friendly match. Argentina won 4-1 against a 'Roja' recently crowned world champion in South Africa under Vicente del Bosque's orders. Eight years later, a renewed Spain will step onto the turf of the Metropolitano Stadium under the command of Julen Lopetegui, who has not yet lost in the 17 matches he has led the national team.