No Messi but Argentina 'have to' beat Brazil, says Romero
16 October, 2018
Argentina may be without superstar Lionel Messi but the two-time world champions simply must beat Brazil in a friendly in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero says.
According to FIFA, this will be the 105th time the South American arch-rivals have faced each other in an official match, with Brazil marginally ahead on 40 wins to 38, with 26 draws.
And while Brazil, record five-time winners of the World Cup, have picked most of their star names, Argentina are without the likes of Manchester City's in-form forward Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain of AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel Di Maria, as well as Messi.
"I would love Messi to be here because that would give us a boost in quality," said Romero, back in the Argentina squad following a knee injury that prevented him from featuring in two friendlies in September.
"Adding the best in the world would be best for the future of the national team."