Football: Messi joins the Argentina squad in their first training session in Madrid

Lionel Messi joined up with his Argentina team-mates for the first time since last year's FIFA World Cup finals, training in Madrid, Spain ahead of friendlies with Venezuela and Morocco. Messi's international future was thrown into doubt following a round of 16 defeat in Russia to eventual champions France. However, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni hinted in January that Messi could return and the Barcelona star was duly named in the squad for the upcoming Copa American warm-up games. Argentina take on Venezuela at Atletico Madrid's Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on Friday before travelling to Tangier to face Morocco four days later. Scaloni's side will then face Colombia, Paraguay and Qatar in Copa America Group B. While Messi returns to the 'Albiceleste' (white and sky-blue) ranks, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Mauro Icardi were all left out by Scaloni.