There will be a gaping hole in the Argentina side when they face Bolivia in Cordoba on Wednesday.

The post-Lionel Messi era is now underway, albeit the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will return for the third of three fixtures in this international break when the World Cup finalists face Benin next Tuesday in his official farewell game.

Despite his advancing age, the 39-year-old was still Argentina’s best player over the summer and he departs the stage alongside fellow old-timer Nicolas Otamendi. There was a fear boss Lionel Scaloni, who has skilfully guided his country to the 2022 World Cup crown and two Copas America would join them but he has indicated he is willing to extend his contract.

Sclaoni has likely been encouraged by the fact he will work with a largely unchanged squad. He named a 35-man party for the next three games, of which the first two have been earmarked as a chance to look at younger players.

Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, like Messi, will only appear in the Benin game while Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina are serving lengthy bans for their appalling behaviour in the World Cup final defeat to Spain in New Jersey.

“The squad selection is what any coach would do,” said Scaloni after naming a group that includes 12 players that have played three internationals or fewer.

“A World Cup is over, and we think it’s a nice time to think about change. This is something we had to do and it can pay off. Everything takes a while but we are of the opinion that these boys can stay.”

Scaloni knows, however, there is no replacing the man that has dug Argentina out of many a hole in the past.

Messi spent the first half of his international career struggling for acceptance from Argentina fans who watched him grow up in Spain from the age of 13 and considered him more European than South American.

That started to change in 2021 when he led Argentina to the Copa America and accelerated quickly when he single-handedly dragged his country to the World Cup title in Qatar.

The man earmarked to take his place is Como midfielder Nico Paz. Expectations are realistic, however. Paz is 22 and a burgeoning talent but he has some way to go to matching the achievements of arguably the greatest player of all time.

For Bolivia, this is an opportunity to twist the knife in an Argentina side bereft without their leading light. They came close to qualifying for the World Cup only to fall at the final hurdle with a 2-1 defeat to Iraq in the inter-confederation play-offs.

Team News for Argentina v Bolivia

Cristian Romero will captain Argentina in Messi’s absence. Agustín Giay of Palmeiras is likely to start at right-back with Valentin Barco and Franco Mastantuono competing for a place in a three-man midfield.

Bolivia coach Oscar Villegas will select from a similar squad to that which lost 2-0 to Paraguay over the weekend.

Expected line-ups for Argentina v Bolivia

Argentina: E Martinez; Giay, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Medina; Palacios, Mac Allister, Barco; Paz, Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez

Bolivia: Viscarra; Morales, Haquin, Arroyo; Medina, Cuellar, Melgar, Villamil, Fernandez; Miguel, Nava  

Where to watch Argentina v Bolivia: TV and online stream

Argentina versus Bolivia kicks off at 1am on Thursday morning UK time. You can watch it live on Premier Sports and stream via the Premier Sports Player.

Stats for Argentina v Bolivia

• Argentina have won the last five meetings between the countries
• Overall, Argentina have won 12, drawn three and lost two of 17 games, outscoring Bolivia 47-14. Argentina have won nine of the last 10, and their biggest win was 7-0 in September 2015.
• Bolivia’s last win over Argentina came in a World Cup qualifier in 2017
• Bolivia have lost their last four games
• Argentina are 2nd in the FIFA rankings and Bolivia are 77th 

Prediction for Argentina v Bolivia

Argentina are bound to be feeling nervous and a little vulnerable without Messi but Bolivia simply aren’t good enough to capitalise.

The hosts should win at a canter.

Prediction: Argentina 3-0 Bolivia