Why Dybala and Molina Will Miss Messi’s Final Argentina Match

Lionel Messi is set to play what is expected to be his final match for Argentina, but two of his 2022 World Cup-winning teammates, Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina, will not be there to witness the occasion in Buenos Aires.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) invited all members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad, along with their families, to attend Messi’s farewell match at the Monumental. Dybala and Molina were also invited.

However, their club coach Gian Piero Gasperini has refused to allow the two Roma players to travel to Argentina.

Roma face a busy schedule after the international break. They will play Como in an important Serie A fixture on Sunday before facing Real Madrid in another major test. Gasperini believes the long journey to Argentina and back could affect the players’ preparation and recovery.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia on Monday, Gasperini explained that the travel distance made it impossible to release the two players.

“We have an important match on Sunday. Therefore, it was not possible to allow Dybala and Molina to travel to Argentina and return. Argentina is very far away, and they would have had to spend many hours travelling by plane,” he said.

Despite keeping the two players from attending Messi’s farewell, Gasperini expressed his admiration for the Argentine icon.

“Messi’s farewell will be emotional. Personally, as both a player and a coach, I have seen many great players. But it is difficult to think of anyone who has achieved as much as Lionel. It makes me sad to see his career with Argentina coming to an end,” Gasperini said.

Neither Dybala nor Molina was called up to Argentina’s squad for the current international break. However, both had been invited to the Monumental alongside their other World Cup-winning teammates.

They were also given the opportunity to attend the event with their families.

In the end, though, Roma’s demanding schedule has prevented them from making the trip.

While many of Messi’s 2022 World Cup-winning teammates are expected to be present for his emotional farewell, Dybala and Molina will have to watch the historic moment from afar because of their club commitments.